St. Matt. 27:15-24 & Ps. 22

Palm/Passion Sunday 2006

Praise in the Dust of Death

Ps. 22 -- is one of the Psalms that mirrors the whole intent and purpose of the Book of Psalms -- Movement from Lament (vv. 1-21; agony) to Praise (vv. 22-31 - God has heard David's prayer)

Lament (vv. 1-21)

David -- deep distress & abandoned by God -- He was isolated and left to his enemies while God was miles and miles away from him, far to be able to save him.

(vv. 1-11) -- First Cycle

(vv. 1-2) -- Complaint # 1 --  No Rest -- in the Holy Land of Rest

(vv. 3-5) -- Recollection # 1 of better times -- the whole of God's People - His ancestors cried out and were heard! -- but he has no answer!

(vv. 6-8) -- Complaint # 2 -- Abandoned

(vv. 9-10) -- Recollection # 2 of better times -- Individual

Bitter Irony (Drastic Contrast) -- God is with His people (v. 3) while I grovel like a worm (v. 6) -- Where is God in my suffering?  I am abandoned to my pain!

(v. 11) -- Plea -- God is far (vv. 1, 19), Trouble is near.

(vv. 12-21) -- Second Cycle

(vv. 12-13) -- Complaint -- animals surround/encircle

(vv. 14-15) -- Nearness of Death (bones) -- v. 15 "dust of death"

(vv. 16 a, b) -- Complaint -- animals surround/encircle

(vv. 16 c - 18) -- Nearness of Death -- body parts -- v. 18 -- so close to death that even his possessions taken/looted -- he won't need them anymore

(vv. 19-21; cf. v. 11) -- Plea -- "far" & "help" -- all become like animals, no longer human (dehumanize) -- because felt abandoned by God - no longer a man

Now calls God "My help" cf. v. 11 -- declaration of faith -- beginning of transition in the psalm.

Vv. 20-21 -- "deliver" (v. 8), "save" (v. 1), "answer/rescue" (v. 2) -- contrast with "no help earlier" -- but now relying on faith

V. 21 b -- God now answers, but not apart from suffering -- rather he answers in the midst of & even from the suffering.

God is present in the depths and even in death (v. 15; cf. vv. 17-18)

Praise (vv. 22-31)

SHOCKING, SURPRISING -- Vv. 22-26 -- "Praise" occurs in every v. except v. 24 where the psalmist gives a reason for praise.

What changes the tone of the Psalm?  -- not the affliction or suffering -- Rather God is present in the affliction, which the psalmist claims by faith -- the praise comes out of the depth and darkness of affliction

God is not hiding from the psalmist -- The Psalmist realizes by faith that God is very near (v. 24) -- He is as near as the cry of His afflicted people

In fact, God does not despise the affliction of His afflicted people -- rather He shares in it! (v. 24)

If God is enthroned upon the praises of His people then as His people offer up praises in the midst of affliction then God is now enthroned (He is present) in the midst of His afflicted people (v. 23; cf. v. 3).

The forsakenness of the Psalmists (v. 1) becomes the forsakenness of God

Jesus Christ

Hanging on the cross, Jesus sings Ps. 22 -- The Dark Night of the Soul in the Shadow of Death

Ultimately, this Psalm is not about David, because David, and you as well, has never known the full abandonment of God as Jesus did.  No one has ever suffered like Jesus did.  No one has ever sung from the depths of agony as Jesus did while hanging from the cross.

Why?  Because Jesus takes our sin upon Himself and suffers at the hands of the Father!  -- Perfect Judgment -- Perfect Justice -- Because he became sin for us he was truly abandoned by God, His Father.

Here Jesus sings the Psalms of Lament - sung in the depths of perfect agony and suffering at the hand of God.

Though David "felt" abandoned, David had not truly been abandoned by God.

Only Jesus has truly been abandoned -- Jesus knows your pain like no other human has ever known -- He understands your suffering perfectly -- Heb. 2:14-18:

Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Again in Heb. 4:14-16:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus took on your flesh, with all its infirmities, to receive the stripe of God's judgment that was due your sin, so that you could live.  No one knows your suffering and the darkness of your soul like Jesus.  There is no dark valley or pit of despair that Jesus hasn't been to for you.  He fully understands.  His arms have been opened wide in love and comfort as he sang with you the songs of lament while hanging from the cross.

So what is it about God's presence that turns mourning into dancing; grief into joy?

-- the glorious resurrection and new life of Christ -- David is singing in faith of the future resurrection of Jesus Christ.

-- God is not only the source of the Psalmist's grief (v. 15) but through the resurrection of Jesus Christ He becomes the source of life, joy, and praise (v. 25).

The Resurrected Lord sings the Psalms in the midst of the congregation of His people -- Ps. 22:22 -- Heb. 2:12 -- Jesus sang this entire Psalm from the cross, not simply in desperation of the abandonment that he experienced when God turned His head away from His Son and as Isaiah says, "With pleasure crushed His Son putting Him to grief" (53:10) but Jesus also sang in faith that God will raise him victoriously from death

Believers in Faith Union with Christ

But we have been united to Jesus Christ through faith alone so that we too can join with our Savior in singing the Psalm of praise in the midst of the greatest suffering of our lives (v. 23; cf. v. 3).

In fact, for the believer (who is safely united to Jesus Christ and whose home is now heaven) to live is to praise.  Peter describes you as a royal priesthood who now offer up "spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ," "proclaiming the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:5, 9).  Paul says that you now have the privilege of "presenting your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Rom. 12:1).  We have become the fragrance of Christ so that we might join with Paul who declares:

Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place (2 Cor. 2:14).

Praise defines the life of the believer, even in the shadow of death.  Why?  Because Life has invaded and conquered death -- 1 Cor. 15:54-57:

“DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus Christ has conquered death and won the victory that life of praise and glorying in our Savior leads to universal praise -- vv. 27-31

(V. 27-28) -- All ethnic and national boundaries have been superseded. 

Israel ended with no rest in the land -- but now in Jesus Christ, in our heavenly inheritance which transcends the national and geographic boundaries of this earth, we have now found restful peace in Christ (cf. v. 2) -- He is our Sabbath Rest in God.

(V. 29) -- It extends to those who are dying

Because He has fully tasted death for us, Jesus Christ alone is able to make even those who stand in the shadow of death to offer up a sacrifice of praise to God because he alone perfectly shares in our suffering.

(V. 31) -- It even extends to those who are not yet born

Because Jesus Christ sings this Psalm in your midst and because you have now been united to Him by faith, then Ps. 22 has become your song.  You now are able to sing both halves in Christ.  You know the pain of the trials and sorrows of this life.  And you can sing honestly before God of the grief that this life brings.  Jesus Christ took on your weaknesses and the sufferings of this life.  He can sympathize with your sorrow and he can weep and lament with you in your tears.  But because Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death, then you don't grieve as unbelievers grieve.  Jesus sang the song of the complete, hellish separation from the Father for you so that in a very real sense that you will never have to sing the ultimate laments of death.  You may sing to God in the depths of your sorrow but never as one who has been ultimately abandoned by God, because Jesus was abandoned in your place.  In your sorrow, in the dust of death, you are able to lift your voice in praise and joy in your God who has delivered you from death to life.  God has made you able to sing the joy of the resurrected, heavenly life with Jesus Christ.  Paul tells you to sing:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3).

Why?  "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18).

Because Jesus has first sung Ps. 22 for you, then you are now able to hold both acts of grief in affliction and joy in salvation together in one song of praise to God.  Jesus sings of the bitter sorrows and the sweet joy of life and together with Him we lift our voice in praise to our God, who is not far off, but who is with us even to the end of the age, enthroned on the praises of his people.

Amen!

-SDG-