GiveDownload the App
Book & Chapter
Version

Psalms 22 Explained — My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me

A forsaken cry rises as enemies gape and hands and feet are wounded, yet the speaker still reaches for God's help. The turning point is the shift from lament to proclamation, because deliverance becomes a witness that draws nations to worship.

Summary

Psalm 22:1–2 – Forsaken cry What happens: The psalmist cries that God has forsaken him and does not answer. What it means: Real faith voices anguish. God invites honest lament.

Psalm 22:3–5 – Trust of the fathers What happens: He remembers God’s holiness and past deliverances. What it means: Memory strengthens hope. God’s track record encourages present faith.

Psalm 22:6–8 – Scorn and mockery What happens: He is despised and mocked: “He trusts in the Lord; let Him rescue him.” What it means: Suffering often includes shame. The righteous may be misunderstood.

Psalm 22:9–11 – Lifelong care What happens: He recalls God’s care from birth and asks for nearness in trouble. What it means: God’s past mercy grounds current prayer. He is a faithful caretaker.

Psalm 22:12–18 – Pierced and exposed What happens: Enemies surround him; his strength dries up; his hands and feet are pierced; garments are divided by casting lots. What it means: This suffering anticipates Christ’s crucifixion. God’s plan includes redemptive pain.

Psalm 22:19–21 – Save me What happens: He pleads for swift help and deliverance. What it means: Prayer holds fast when strength fails. God is the only rescuer.

Psalm 22:22–26 – Praise in the assembly What happens: He vows to declare God’s name and invites the humble to eat and be satisfied. What it means: God turns lament into public praise. Salvation becomes a feast for the needy.

Psalm 22:27–31 – Nations remember What happens: All ends of the earth turn to the Lord; future generations proclaim His righteousness. What it means: God’s salvation is global and enduring. In Christ, the world hears, believes, and worships.

Application

  • Bring your deepest pain to God.
  • Remember God’s faithfulness to past generations.
  • Proclaim His salvation so future generations will trust Him.

Bible

1To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24For 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.

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

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

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

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

29All 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.

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

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

← Psalms 21Psalms 23 →

Take Versely with you

Read chapter summaries, grow a daily devotion habit, and understand God's Word with Versely.

Download the AppSupport Versely