Trusting Patience

Trusting Patience

(Psalm 22:1-31)

Yearly Theme:  “Patience is…”

Series Title:  “Character Traits of Patience”

May 8^th, 2022

Something to think about:

Who, or what, do you trust?  Would you consider yourself a trusting person?  Or have you become hardened by life to the point where trust doesn’t come easy for you?  If you are a believer in GOD, do you trust Him?  If not, why not?

Today we come to a very familiar Psalm, but not in the way you might think.  Psalm 22 is a Psalm written by the ancient Israelite King David.  There’s no real consensus around why he wrote it, or what was going on specifically at the time that he wrote it, but it’s one that is quoted often in the Passion narratives in the Gospels surrounding the crucifixion of Christ.  This Psalm expresses feelings of forsakenness (or abandonment), feelings of desperation, pain, and sorrow, but most importantly, this psalm expresses sentiments of patience, hope, and trust in GOD.  Let’s take a closer look:

Turn in your Bible to:  Psalm 22:1-31

With regard to this Psalm of David, Biblical scholar, Allen Ross, writes,

“No known incident in the life of David fits the details of this psalm.  The expressions describe an execution, not an illness; yet that execution is more appropriate to Jesus’ crucifixion than David’s experience.  The Gospel writers also saw connections between some of the words in this psalm (vv. 8, 16, 18) and other events in Christ’s Passion.  Also, Hebrews 2:12 quotes Psalm 22:22.  Thus the church has understood this psalm to be typological of the death of Jesus Christ.  This means that David used many poetic expressions to portray his immense sufferings, but these poetic words became literally true of the suffering of Jesus Christ at His enemies’ hands.  The interesting feature of this psalm is that it does not include one word of confession of sin, and no imprecation against enemies.  It is primarily the account of a righteous man who was being put to death by wicked men.”^[1]

Considering this, and more, this particular Psalm stands out in distinction from most of David’s other Psalms for it conceives of things in hyperbole that Jesus experienced in reality.  The takeaway this morning is this:

Key Point:  “In the midst of sorrow, GOD can be trusted.”

Obviously David experienced great pain and rejection that caused him to cry out to GOD for help, but so did Jesus.  As we look at the parallel meaning of this Psalm we learn that though bad things happen to us, even when we are faithful to GOD, He can be trusted. 

• We can trust in GOD because of what He has done in the  .

Psalm 22:3-5 (NLT), ³ Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.  ⁴ Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.  ⁵ They cried out to you and were saved.  They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

• We can trust in GOD because of what He is doing in the  .

Psalm 22:9-10 (NLT), ⁹ Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.  ¹⁰ I was thrust into your arms at my birth.  You have been my God from the moment I was born.

• We can trust GOD because of what He will do in the  .

Psalm 22:25-28 (NLT), ²⁵ I will praise you in the great assembly.  I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.  ²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied.  All who seek the Lord will praise him.  Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.  ²⁷ The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.  All the families of the nations will bow down before him.  ²⁸ For royal power belongs to the Lord.  He rules all the nations.

Something to take home:

It’s been said that the great Christian reformer, Martin Luther, once spent three days in a deep, dark depression over something that had gone wrong.  On the third day his wife came downstairs dressed in clothes of mourning.  ‘Who’s dead?’ he asked her.   ‘God,’ she replied.  Luther rebuked her, saying, ‘What do you mean, God is dead?  God cannot die.’  ‘Well,’ she replied, ‘the way you’ve been acting I was sure He had!’”

Are you walking around living life as if GOD is dead?  Do you believe that He is good and faithful and loving?  Do you believe He is in control, even though you can’t see how?  In moments of difficulty and trial, you can be assured that GOD can be trusted!  He is good; He is in control; and He will come through!

Key Point:  “In the midst of sorrow, GOD can be trusted.”

^[1] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 809–810. (Italics mine.)