This is our third consideration of Psalm 22, ‘the Psalm of the Cross.’ We first looked at how the Father forsook the Son, and wicked men crucified Him. We then took a close look at the phrases in the psalm which were literally fulfilled at Calvary, one thousand years later. Today we will focus on a brief portion of the psalm. It is David’s cry for deliverance from his trouble, which is also Jesus’ cry to the Father from the cross. The Father answered both of their prayers.
Do not be far from me, O LORD, O my strength, hasten to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth, and from the horns of the unicorns: for You have heard me! (19-21) David is writing this psalm, and it springs out of some dark experience in his life. His cry for deliverance foreshadows Jesus’ cry to the Father from the cross. We will place our emphasis on the application to Christ Jesus.
Jesus had twice said that the LORD, His Father, was far from Him (1, 11). He looked up to the LORD one more time for the strength He needed. The wording indicates that the LORD is the essence of strength.
While ‘the sword,’ to David, referred to his enemies, for Christ it spoke of the Roman government and its power to crucify.
The word translated ‘darling’ means ‘only,’ as in an only child. It is translated other places ‘precious,’ ‘only one,’ and ‘solitary one.’ It is speaking of Christ’s life, His soul, for He has only one. It is irreplaceable and therefore very precious.
‘The dog’, ‘the lion’ and ‘the unicorns’ no doubt all refer to Satan. Scripture refers to him as ‘a roaring lion, walking about, seeking to devour.’ The poet described him as ‘the hound of hell.’ Until Christ arose triumphant on the third day, the Devil thought that Calvary was his day of victory.
Christ had said before that God had not heard him (2). The final triumphant phrase: You have heard me (21), is shouted, for now God has heard him. The victory is won. This mirrors what Jesus cried triumphantly from the cross, It is finished!
Dear soul without the Savior, Jesus paid it all. All to Him you owe. Come to the Savior. Repent of your sin and trust His finished work on your behalf. He is waiting for you to come. He will save you today!
Dear believer, the victory was won at the Cross. We need not fear. Truly we live in a world that brings much trouble and tribulation. But in Christ is the victory. Our conquering Lord, Savior, and King is coming to reign! Look up…your redemption draws nigh!