INTRODUCTION: This psalm gives a graphic picture of the suffering King. It is likely that David initially spoke/penned these words to describe a personal affliction. Yet, the Lord gave him the words in such a way that it would be a prophetic explanation of the physical and spiritual sufferings that would be endured by the Son of God.

1. THE CRY OF THE KING (Psalm 22:1-5 [1] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? [2] O my God, I cry in the day time, 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.
   See All...)
1. The Despair of the King (Psalm 22:1-2 [1] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? [2] O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
   See All...)
1. The King’s cry (Psalm 22:1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
   See All...; Matthew 27:46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
   See All...)
1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
2. Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2. The Lord’s silence (Psalm 22:2O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
   See All...)
1. I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not.
2. I cry in the night season, and am not silent.
2. The Holiness of God (Psalm 22:3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
   See All...)
1. God is holy despite His silence.
2. God inhabits the praises of Israel.
3. The Hope of the Fathers (Psalm 22:4-5 [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.
   See All...)
1. The past trust of the fathers (Psalm 22:4Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
   See All...)
1. They trusted.
2. God delivered them.
2. The past cry of the fathers (Psalm 22:5They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
   See All...)
1. They cried unto God, and were delivered.
2. They trusted God, and were not confounded.
2. THE REPROACH OF THE KING (Psalm 22:6-13 [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. [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. [12] Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. [13] They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
   See All...)
1. The Mocking of the King (Psalm 22:6-8 [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.
   See All...)
1. The humbling of the King (Psalm 22:6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
   See All...; Job 25:6How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
   See All...; Mark 9:44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
   See All..., 46, 48)
1. I am a worm.
2. And no man
2. The reproach of the King (Psalm 22:6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
   See All...; Isaiah 53:3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
   See All...; Luke 10:16He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
   See All...)
1. I am a reproach of men.
2. I am despised of the people.
3. The scorning of the King (Psalm 22:7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
   See All...; Matthew 9:24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
   See All...)
1. All they that see me laugh me to scorn.
2. They shoot out the lip.
3. They shake the head.
4. The jeers toward the King (Psalm 22:8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
   See All...; Matthew 27:29And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
   See All...; Mark 15:20And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
   See All...)
1. He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him.
2. Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
2. The Hope of the King (Psalm 22:9-11 [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.
   See All...)
1. The God from his mother’s belly (Psalm 22:9-10 [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.
   See All...)
1. God took him out of the womb (Psalm 22:9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
   See All...). Note: According to the wording, he was in existence before exiting the womb.
2. God made him to hope when he was upon his mother’s breast (Psalm 22:9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
   See All...).
3. God was his God from the womb, the mother’s belly (Psalm 22:10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
   See All...).
2. The God for times of trouble (Psalm 22:11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
   See All...)
1. Be not far from me; for trouble is near.
2. There is none to help.
3. The Attack of the King (Psalm 22:12-13 [12] Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. [13] They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
   See All...)
1. The bulls of Bashan (Psalm 22:12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
   See All...)
1. Bashan was located east of the Jordan and was excellent pastureland for cattle. The breed of cattle from Bashan was bigger and stronger than other cattle (Deuteronomy 32:14Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.
   See All...).
2. The bulls of Bashan became a picture of those who oppress (Ezekiel 39:18Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
   See All...; Amos 4:1Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
   See All...).
2. The attack (Psalm 22:12-13 [12] Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. [13] They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
   See All...)
1. They have compassed me (Psalm 22:12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
   See All...).
2. They have beset me round about (Psalm 22:12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
   See All...).
3. They gaped upon me, as a ravening and a roaring lion (Psalm 22:13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
   See All...; Psalm 7:2Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
   See All...; Psalm 17:11-12 [11] They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; [12] Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
   See All...; 1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
   See All...).
3. THE SUFFERING OF THE KING (Psalm 22:14-18 [14] I 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. [15] My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. [16] For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. [17] I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. [18] They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
   See All...)
1. His Bones Were Out of Joint (Psalm 22:14I 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.
   See All...).
1. He was poured out like water (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.
   See All...).
2. All His bones were out of joint, but not a bone was broken (John 19:36For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
   See All...).
2. His Heart Melted like Wax (Psalm 22:14I 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.
   See All...; John 19:34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
   See All...).
3. His Tongue Cleaved to His Mouth (Psalm 22:15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
   See All...).
1. His strength dried up like a potsherd (Psalm 32:3-4 [3] When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. [4] For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
   See All...).
2. His tongue cleaveth to His jaws (Lamentation 4:4
   See All...; John 19:28After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
   See All...).
3. He is brought to the dust of death (Genesis 3:19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
   See All...).
4. They Pierced His Hands and Feet (Psalm 22:16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
   See All...).
1. Dogs compassed Him (Matthew 7:6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
   See All...; Philippians 3:2O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
   See All...; Revelation 22:15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
   See All...).
2. The assembly of the wicked inclosed Him (Luke 22:63-71 [63] And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. [64] And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? [65] And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. [66] And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, [67] Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: [68] And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. [69] Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. [70] Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. [71] And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
   See All...; Luke 23:10-11 [10] And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. [11] And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
   See All...).
3. They pierced His hands and feet (Zechariah 12:10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
   See All...; John 20:25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
   See All...).
5. He Could See All His Bones (Psalm 22:17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
   See All...; Isaiah 52:14As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
   See All...).
1. He could “tell” all His bones. Note: The word tell here means to count (see Genesis 15:5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
   See All...). Consider the work of a bank teller .
2. The people looked and stared upon Him (Matthew 27:36And sitting down they watched him there;
   See All..., 39-41).
6. They Gambled for His Garments (Psalm 22:18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
   See All...; Matthew 27:35And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
   See All...; 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.
   See All...).
1. They parted His garments among them.
2. They cast lots upon His vesture.
4. THE DELIVERANCE OF THE KING (Psalm 22:19-21 [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.
   See All...)
1. The Prayer for Help (Psalm 22:19But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
   See All...; Psalm 22:11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
   See All...)
1. Be not thou far from me, O LORD.
2. O my strength, haste thee to help me.
2. The Prayer for Deliverance (Psalm 22:20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
   See All...; Psalm 22:16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
   See All...)
1. Deliver my soul from the sword.
2. Deliver my darling from the power of the dog.
3. The soul is also called man’s “darling” in Psalm 35:17Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
   See All.... This indicates that man’s most prized possession is his soul. This would make perfect sense in that it will be the part of man that will dwell eternally with the Lord or in hell and eventually, the lake of fire.
3. The Prayer of Faith (Psalm 22:21Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
   See All...; Psalm 22:13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
   See All...)
1. Save me from the lion’s mouth.
2. Thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
5. THE SEED OF THE KING (Psalm 22:22-31 [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.
   See All...)
1. His Praise of the Father (Psalm 22:22-25 [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.
   See All...)
1. His praise to the brethren (Psalm 22:22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
   See All...; Hebrews 2:11-12 [11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, [12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
   See All...)
1. Declaring God’s name unto His brethren
2. Praising God in the midst of the congregation; Note: This is a perfect place to show that the Bible defines church as a congregation .
2. His challenge to His brethren (Psalm 22:23Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
   See All...)
1. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him.
2. Ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him.
3. Ye the seed of Israel, fear him.
3. His testimony of the Father (Psalm 22:24For 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.
   See All...)
1. He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted.
2. He hath not hid his face from the afflicted.
3. When the afflicted cried unto God, he heard.
4. His openness of praise (Psalm 22:25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
   See All...)
1. In the great congregation (Psalm 35:18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
   See All...; Psalm 40:9-10 [9] I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. [10] I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
   See All...); certainly, this could be a future reference to the great congregation assembled in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-23 [22] But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
   See All...).
2. Before them that fear him
2. His Conquest of the World (Psalm 22:26-28 [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.
   See All...)
1. God’s blessings on the meek (Psalm 22:26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
   See All...; Psalm 37:11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
   See All...; Matthew 5:5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
   See All...)
1. To eat and be satisfied
2. To praise the Lord
3. To live forever
2. God’s blessings on the world (Psalm 22:27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
   See All...)
1. To turn unto the Lord
2. To worship before Him
3. God’s establishment of His kingdom (Psalm 22:28For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
   See All...)
1. The kingdom is the LORD’S.
2. He is the governor among the nations.
3. The Righteousness to Come (Psalm 22:29-31 [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.
   See All...)
1. Dependence upon the Lord (Psalm 22:29All 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.
   See All...)
2. Service to the Lord (Psalm 22:30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
   See All...)
3. Declaring the righteousness of God (Psalm 22:31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
   See All...)

CONCLUSION: Though David likely did not understand the depth of the words God gave him, those words yielded a vivid description of the work of Christ. Nothing Christ endured on the cross was because of His own sins. There was no sin in Him. Yet, He took the sins of the world on Him so that others might receive of His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
See All...). Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?