Monday Devo
Scripture:
Psalm 22
1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
Commentary:
Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? Jesus quotes Ps. 22:1 (see note on Matt. 27:35). The last two words are Aramaic (the everyday language spoken by Jesus), and the first two could be either Aramaic or Hebrew. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Some of the most profoundly mysterious words in the entire Bible. In some sense Jesus had to be cut off from the favor of and fellowship with the Father that had been his eternally, because he was bearing the sins of his people and therefore enduring God’s wrath (cf. Isa. 53:6, 10; Hab. 1:13; Rom. 3:25; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 1 John 2:2). And yet, in quoting Ps. 22:1 Jesus probably has in mind the remainder of the psalm as well, which moves on to a cry of victory (Ps. 22:21–31); and he expresses faith, calling God “my God.” Surely he knows why he is dying, for this was the purpose of his coming to earth (cf. Matt. 16:21; 20:18–19, 28). And surely his cry, uttered with a loud voice, is expressing, not bewilderment at his plight, but witness to the bystanders, and through them to the world, that he was experiencing God-forsakenness not for anything in himself but for the salvation of others. Surely Matthew, understanding this, quotes Jesus’ words to challenge his readers. Jesus’ torment, despite his anticipations of it in Gethsemane, was surely inconceivable in advance (cf. note on 24:36).
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1886.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1886.
Questions:
- Psalm 22 is a Psalm of LAMENT from David, but also a prophetic MESSIANIC Psalm that points to Jesus' crucifixion. The first line is one of the most famous lines spoken in all of human history. "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Think about a time when you felt like God had abandoned you. Did you pray a prayer like this to Him?
- David prayed this prayer in a moment of distress, but Jesus also prayed it on the cross. Notice, they are not asking for God to fix anything. Yes, what they are experiencing is painful, but what is even MORE painful is the DISTANCE from God. And so they pray, "Come close to me!" When was the last time you begged God to come close to you? Are you even aware of distance when it exists?
Prayer Topics:
- That God would come close to you.
- That you would long for his nearness.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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