A lone doe standing alert on a bare stony hillside, small in the lower third, in the first gray-rose light before sunrise.

Lament · David

Psalm 22

Jesus prayed these words on the cross. David prayed them first. It begins in the dark and ends with the whole world turning to God.

31 verses≈ 4 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'Psalm 22
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

The Psalm of the Cross

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

My God, my God,

why have You forsaken me?

Why are You so far from saving me,

so far from my words of groaning?

I cry out by day, O my God,

but You do not answer,

and by night,

but I have no rest.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?

Yet You are holy,

enthroned on the praises of Israel.

In You our fathers trusted;

they trusted and You delivered them.

They cried out to You and were set free;

they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

From ground level on a dusty road at hot midday, one small earthworm drying in the dust as the sandaled feet of passers-by blur past.

But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by men and despised by the people.

All who see me mock me;

they sneer and shake their heads:

“He trusts in the LORD,

let the LORD deliver him;

let the LORD rescue him,

since He delights in him.”

Yet You brought me forth from the womb;

You made me secure at my mother’s breast.

From birth I was cast upon You;

from my mother’s womb You have been my God.

Be not far from me,

for trouble is near

and there is no one to help.

Question

Quick question

He has said God doesn’t answer, by day or by night.

So who does David keep talking to?

A worn wool tunic and cloak spread on bare ground in flat gray light, a few plain smooth pebbles thrown on it, no one in frame.

For dogs surround me;

a band of evil men encircles me;

they have pierced my hands and feet.

I can count all my bones;

they stare and gloat over me.

They divide my garments among them

and cast lots for my clothing.

0:15

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

A great aurochs, a wild ox, dark and massive with long forward-curving horns, standing on a green hillside.

But You, O LORD, be not far off;

O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

Deliver my soul from the sword,

my precious life from the power of wild dogs.

Save me from the mouth of the lion;

at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!

The circle widens

Whiteboard

The man who cried out alone is about to stop being alone. Each step of the praise takes in more people, and the last reaches those not yet born.

I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;

I will praise You in the assembly.

You who fear the LORD, praise Him!

All descendants of Jacob, honor Him!

All offspring of Israel, revere Him!

For He has not despised or detested

the torment of the afflicted.

He has not hidden His face from him,

but has attended to his cry for help.

My praise for You resounds in the great assembly;

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.

The poor will eat and be satisfied;

those who seek the LORD will praise Him.

May your hearts live forever!

Pray

Someone in the first half

Think of someone living in the first half of this psalm right now, or be honest if it’s you. Pray for them by name. Ask God not to be far.

Morning on a rocky coast below a forested ridge: long white breakers of the sea roll in, oaks and pines on the slopes bend in a strong wind, and a strip of golden grain lies between shore and hill.

All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the LORD.

All the families of the nations

will bow down before Him.

For dominion belongs to the LORD

and He rules over the nations.

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—

even those unable to preserve their lives.

Posterity will serve Him;

they will declare the Lord to a new generation.

They will come and proclaim His righteousness

to a people yet unborn—

all that He has done.

to a people yet unborn—all that He has done.

You’ve experienced

Psalm 22

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A verse to carry with you

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?

Psalm 22:1

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