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Bible Study Psalms 22

We will examine Psalms 22; but first, because of the false teaching of Heretics and the misunderstanding of the ignorant, it is important that I make two points emphatically clear. Many may have told you that God forsake Jesus Christ on the cross and left Him, and/or that Jesus Christ was trying to back out of the crucifixion. This is not the case, and if it weren't for the innocence of the ignorance that they say it in, it would be a blasphemy!

In verse 1, of Psalm 22, we are going to see Christ's first words from the cross: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This was not Jesus saying this to God; it was Jesus simply quoting Psalm 22 from the cross, as it was written by David 1000 years prior. For these are the first words in the Psalm. Jesus was teaching from the cross and fulfilling prophecy, in that we could believe that He was the True Messiah foretold of by the Prophets of the Old Testament and promised of by God to be sent to the world, and that it was He, through whom all could find salvation and life eternal.

God did not forsake Jesus Christ on the cross, nor was Jesus implying so when he uttered those words while He hung on the cross: "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated in English: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" [Ps 22:1 & Mk 15:34]. Jesus was only quoting the scripture of Psalms 22.

PSALM 22

Psalm 22:1-End

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?*1 why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Explanation from above verse:*1 = Jesus quoting the phrase from *1 above, 1000 years later in the New Testament:

Mark 15:34

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (KJV)

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.*1

*Explanation from *1 above: These are the exact words of the mockers were foretold of 1000 years prior to them being said about Jesus as he hung on the cross. Below, in [Matt 27:43] we see them saying those very words. (Remember that we are comparing Hebrew and Greek translated into English).

Matt 27:43

43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (KJV)

9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.*1

Explanation from above verse:*1 = Fulfilment of the above prophecy, 1000 years later in the New Testament:

Matt 26:56

56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. (KJV)

12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

*Explanation from above verse: Bulls means enemies, Jesus was surrounded by enemies. Bashan was known for having the strongest bulls in the region, Jesus was surrounded by the strongest of enemies (the high priests themselves), and they all gathered around to enjoy His slow death.

13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

*Fulfillment of the prophecy above: 1000 years later in the New Testament, it is recorded that as the people who passed by, and even the chief priests gaped (mocked) at Jesus as hung there, dying on the cross:

Matt 27:39-43

39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (KJV)

14 I am poured out like water*1, and all my bones are out of joint*2: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels*3.

*Explanations from above verse: *1 = see verse below for prophecy fulled 1000 years later in the New Testament. *2 my bones are out of joint = From hanging on the cross. *3 = see verse below for prophecy fulled 1000 years later in the New Testament.

John 19:34-35

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. (KJV)

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws*1; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

*Fulfillment of the prophecy of *1 above: 1000 years later in the New Testament, Jesus accomplished that which was written:

John 19:28

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (KJV)

16 For dogs*1have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.*2

*Explanations from above verse: *1 dogs = In the Bible, heathen unbelievers are referred to as dogs. *2 they pierced my hands and my feet. = When they nailed Him to the cross.

17 I may tell all my bones*1: they look and stare upon me.

*Fulfillment of the prophecy of *1 above, 1000 years later in the New Testament: This means that all His bones were intact and not one of them were broken. For any sacrifice to be offered up to God, it had to be perfect. [Ex 12:46 & Num 9:12] And Jesus Christ was That perfect sacrifice for all time! Below is the fulfillment of the prophecy that Jesus' bones were all intact and unbroken.

John 19:32-36

32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled*1, A bone of him shall not be broken. (KJV)

*Explanations from above verse 36: *1 that the scripture should be fulfilled = What scripture fulfilled, you ask? The one we are studying, Psalm 22:17.

18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.*1

*Fulfillment of the prophecy of *1 above, 1000 years later in the New Testament: One thousand years later, Jesus would look down from the cross as he was dying, and see the soldiers fulfilling this prophecy below:

John 19:23-24

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. (KJV)

19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28 For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.

29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this*1.

*Explanations from above verse 31: Here we have an example of what I told you about prior to this Psalm, about the different syntax of the Hebrew and Greek languages. The sentence: "that he hath done this" in the Hebrew wording, is the exact same statement in the Greek as: "It is finished." These are the very last words that the prophesied Messiah would say, 1000 years later from the cross. Below in [Jn 19:30] we see Christ's very last words from the cross, and we see that He had in fact fulfilled the prophecy that was written of Him. Psalm 22 was written and fulfilled by the Divine intercession of Almighty God Himself, so that YOU, when you read of it 3000 years later (today), could believe! Was this all in vain, will you not believe?

John 19:28-30

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (KJV)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That was an excellent scripture to bolster anyone's faith. Stick around, we are going to study another one with the hope that you will begin to understand that those you meet on the street who tell you: "There just ain't no proof that God is real," just haven't bothered to study God's Word The Bible!

Remember that between the giving of the above prophesy and the fulfilment of it, there was a one-thousand year span of time. Nobody but God Almighty Himself could have controlled the actions of the so very many people that had a part in bringing it to come to pass, each one acting as if on cue! And they were acting on cue; they were acting on God's cue, they just didn't know it. For prophecy must come to pass exactly as it was written, it always has and it always will! And in seeing what has come to pass from the past, we can have faith that what is written about the future will also come to pass exactly as it is written. This was a rule and a safeguard that God built into the foundation of this world.

http://www.biblestudysite.com/belief.htm
 
Can you please condense the topic to a sentence or two? I read all week long for a living - I don't feel like reading a book just to post a reply. Gracias
 
Catholic Crusader said:
Can you please condense the topic to a sentence or two? I read all week long for a living - I don't feel like reading a book just to post a reply. Gracias

The simple truth is that Jesus bared all the sins of humanity on Himself and so felt as if God has forsaken Him. This is what sin does; it makes the one who sinned (remember that when Adam and Eve sinned they hid or tried to hide from God) or in Jesus' case (He never sinned but took on our sins unto Himself) felt separated from God. This is why humanity does not want to have anything to do with God, this is why when a child of God goes against what he/she knows is a sin, and feels cut off from God....sin separates us from God. But as I said, in Jesus' case He never sinned, but our sins cause Him to feel separated from God.

Now as far as Jesus wanted to back out on His agreement on being our sacrifice for our sin, the answer is no. If He was backing out He would not say, "Not my will but your will be done." The anguish caused by the reality of what He knew He would go through cause Him to ask if their was another way for God to accomplish saving humanity, then let it be so. Jesus could have backed out of it if that is what He wanted....He said He laid down His life and that no one took it from Him, and He has the power to take it up again back.
 
Yes, it seems an inigma to believe Jesus was abandoned on the cross in light of what Paul writes in 2 Cor.5:18-19, NIV:

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."
 
onelove said:
That was an excellent scripture to bolster anyone's faith. Stick around, we are going to study another one with the hope that you will begin to understand that those you meet on the street who tell you: "There just ain't no proof that God is real," just haven't bothered to study God's Word The Bible!

Remember that between the giving of the above prophesy and the fulfilment of it, there was a one-thousand year span of time. Nobody but God Almighty Himself could have controlled the actions of the so very many people that had a part in bringing it to come to pass, each one acting as if on cue! And they were acting on cue; they were acting on God's cue, they just didn't know it. For prophecy must come to pass exactly as it was written, it always has and it always will! And in seeing what has come to pass from the past, we can have faith that what is written about the future will also come to pass exactly as it is written. This was a rule and a safeguard that God built into the foundation of this world.

http://www.biblestudysite.com/belief.htm

You actually believe that's proof of God's existence? That the gospels (specifically the Matthean and Marcan gospels, and to a lesser degree the Johannine gospel) emulate the 22nd Psalm only proves literary dependence. That is to say, these gospels were modeling the death of Jesus (however it may have occured) according to Psalm xxii.

Thanks,
E.L.B.
 
wavy said:
You actually believe that's proof of God's existence? That the gospels (specifically the Matthean and Marcan gospels, and to a lesser degree the Johannine gospel) emulate the 22nd Psalm only proves literary dependence. That is to say, these gospels were modeling the death of Jesus (however it may have occured) according to Psalm xxii.
Forgive my ignorance, but is "literary dependence" proof that God does not exist?
 
Scott1 said:
Forgive my ignorance, but is "literary dependence" proof that God does not exist?

Of course not, but appeals to examples of 'prophecy' like this (easily and far better explained by literary dependence) do not in any way prove that he does. The Christian god could exist even if all the evidence in the natural universe indicated that he didn't. The Christian god, by definition, is autonomous, and therefore could always exist outside our natural perceptions.

To try to prove that the Christian god is non-existent is an exercise in futility, since that would be an attempt to prove a universal negative.


Kind regards,
~Eric
 
wavy said:
Of course not, but appeals to examples of 'prophecy' like this (easily and far better explained by literary dependence) do not in any way prove that he does. The Christian god could exist even if all the evidence in the natural universe indicated that he didn't. The Christian god, by definition, is autonomous, and therefore could always exist outside our natural perceptions.
Thanks Eric... I appreciate your explaination.
 
Catholic Crusader on Sat May 10, 2008 8:47 am

Can you please condense the topic to a sentence or two? I read all week long for a living - I don't feel like reading a book just to post a reply. Gracias

That is less than a 45 second read,so if you read all week 45 seconds should'nt be a problem
 
Psalms 22...to me, it's always been somewhat similar to Psalms 69, except that there's no calls for redress in Psalms 22, and it's the psalm quoted most frequently in the NT. And wavy's right, this psalm is the psalm of the circumstances of Jesus on the cross at His crucifixtion - Hebrews 2:12 places the words of Ps 22:22 right on His lips.

....my brethen....
 
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