Walk Of Life – Day 27, July 2022 – Thoughts From The Book Of Psalms
Psalms 22
Hope in the Midst of Suffering
The Son of God, the Beloved Begotten Son of God, cried out with a loud voice on the cross ” My God My God why has thou forsaken me?” This psalm is more known as the Messianic psalm and is a prophesy of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, just focus on the cross. The Lord Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and cried out “Father not my will but thine be done.” The sinless one became sin for us. He was betrayed by His very own disciple, one who walked and talked with him for three and a half years, one who was his treasurer. He was denied by one of his most beloved disciples. All His disciples fled from that scene because they were afraid. He went all alone to the cross, carrying the cross. Imagine being stripped naked, walking the streets carrying the cross like a criminal, hanging in the middle of two criminals when He did nothing wrong…nothing at all. It was my sin, my faults, my shame that He bore so I may never see shame again, never see death again. By His death He gave me eternal life.
Think of what may have been going on in the Lord’s mind when He cried out ” My Father, My Father why has thou forsaken me.”
“On Calvary’s Hill, Christ lifts his heavy head toward the heavens crying out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). We would ask the same. Why him? Why forsake your son? Forsake the murderers. Desert the evildoers. Abandon them, not him.
What did Jesus feel on the cross? The icy displeasure of a sin-hating God. Why? Because Jesus carried our sins in His body. With hands nailed open, he invited God, “Treat me as you would treat them.” And God did. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Why did God scream those words? So you will never have to!” – Max Lucado
He gave me life, abundant eternal everlasting life so I will never be alone again. “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” Let it sink in my friend. The begotten, beloved Son of God was forsaken by His own Father because He bore our punishment on Himself. And because of that, I will never be forgotten, never be forsaken. He will walk with me, talk with me, love me, and take me one day into His presence because the propitiation is done, the debt is paid. Sin will never rule over me any more. Satan cannot scare me anymore. He is a defeated enemy. My Christ conquered him on the cross. He has no power whatsoever over me. My Christ has conquered satan, sin, and death. I may weep on the loss of a loved one, but I have the blessed hope that one day I will see them with my Savior who gave Himself for me. O death, where is thy sting, O grave where is thy victory?
Psalm 22: 23 – 26 – Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 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. My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.”
The end of suffering is victory. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. If we are to follow Christ and carry the cross, suffering is inevitable. But He is with you through the bad times and there is nothing to fear. We need to learn to smile in the storm because Christ is in the vessel. Hang on, Jesus will carry you through.
