Reading: Psalm 22
Verses 22-26
I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear youI will fulfill my vows.
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever! (NIV)
Reflection
In this ongoing discussion of Psalm 22 we hit a critical turning point with yesterday’s scripture reading. The humiliated, pierced and tortured Christ prays, “But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen” (Psalm 22:19-21).
God the Father answered the prayer of his suffering Son, not immediately, but three days later Jesus arose from the dead. Now he reigns triumphant over death, hell and the grave. The opening words recorded here are the resurrected Christ’s song of triumph: I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
And why should we praise the LORD? Here is the answer: For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
In the context of this psalm, Christ is the afflict one. The prophet Isaiah declares, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Yes, praise Him! We have a Savior who can fully identify with every aspect of our humanity because he was fully human. He suffered even as we suffer. But in all this He is the victor. May your hearts live forever because of Jesus.
Response: Father, thank you for victory over death, hell and the grave through Your Son Jesus. Amen.
Your Turn: Does the knowledge of Christ’s suffering help you in times of personal pain or loss?
I love the Psalms 
Unfortunately suffering does not come easy to me. Often times it’s difficult to have hope in times of personal pain or loss. However, I imagine that it’s much more difficult for those that don’t have Jesus.
Blessings =)
You are so right about pain and loss. It’s never easy. I am glad that I have a God who identified with my suffering by experiencing suffering Himself.
Although, as stacilys mentioned, often times pain is difficult and it is hard at times to struggle through it, the promise and hope I cling to when it seems the pain is the greatest is I will spend more days pain free in eternity than the short amount of time I may have to endure it here, on this side of heaven.
That truly is a comforting thought, Geecee.