I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the assembly, I will praise you. Psalm 22:22 WEB

To begin Psalm 22, David writes a phrase that Jesus quotes while on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These words of anguish indicate great suffering and a deep feeling of isolation.

As a substitute for our sin, Christ experienced the pain and suffering of our wickedness on the cross. Though he did not sin himself, he cried out in agony quoting David’s words to express his full understanding of the separation from God we feel because of sin.

In the psalm, David expresses the torment of the harassment of his enemies while waiting on the Lord to deliver him. But more than that, he also reminds of the times that God delivered his ancestors from danger. He knows God brings salvation to those who seek him and live by his commands.

A Prayer for God’s Help

The first twenty-one verses of this psalm are a prayer for God’s help in desperate times. Following that, David makes clear his faith in God ultimately answering his prayer. In his struggle, David expresses faith saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the assembly, I will praise you.”

The second half of the psalm offers praise to the Lord for hearing the pleas of the afflicted. In contrast to the words, “why have you forsaken me,” David writes in Psalm 22:24, “For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard. WEB”

As imperfect humans, we sometimes experience a feeling of separation from our Creator. While waiting for help from God, we sometimes feel alone in our struggle. But the Lord is always with the faithful. As Jesus said to his disciples when instructing them to spread the gospel message throughout the world in Matthew 28:20, “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. WEB”

Yesterday’s Devotional: Eternal Comfort