18 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

Prophet David foresaw the "suffering Messiah" in Psalm 22

Psalm 22 lists seven major prophecies that were fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ.

1. My God why have You forsaken Me? (Psalm 22:1)

Fulfillment: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)

2. He trusted God: let Him deliver Him

He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ (Matthew 27:43)

3. I am slain as a sacrifice

He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9:26)

4. They pierced My hands and My feet.

And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” (John 19:37)

5. Gambling for My garments

Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, [a]that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

“They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.” (Matthew 27:35)

6. Men are mocking Me

When they had [a]twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on 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!” (Matthew 27:29)

7. My tongue cleaves to My mouth

Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. (Matthew 27:48)

But You are holy,

Enthroned in the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3)

God dwells (inhabits) the praises of His people. When His people praise Him, His presence descends down.

Our fathers trusted in You;

They trusted, and You delivered them. (Psalm 22:4)

1. Trust Him - He will deliver you

What does it mean to trust the Lord?

Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted (leaned on, relied on You, and were confident) and You delivered them. (Psalm 22:4 Amplified)

They cried to You, and were delivered (Psalm 22:5)

Cried to You...is a reference to prayer - earnestly asking. This is another key to deliverance

Many bulls have surrounded Me;

Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.

They gape at Me with their mouths,

Like a raging and roaring lion. (Psalm 22:12-13)

Most scholars apply this passage to wicked and cruel men standing around the cross. The meaning however is much deeper. The word “bulls” in this passage is the Hebrew word abbiyr, which means “angel, mighty one, stout.” It implies a strong spirit.

Bashan, in Moses ‘time, was a land heavily populated with a famous race of giants. One such race is mentioned in Deuteronomy 3:1-8. The leader was a giant named Og. While Bashan was a fertile land and famous for raising cattle, there were no cattle in the city of Jerusalem, and certainly, no literal bulls present on Mount Calvary that day.

Another meaning of “the bulls of Bashan,” would be the strong evil spirits that worked in the men around the cross. The bulls of Bashan may be a cryptic reference to the evil powers of darkness that encircled the cross, adding to the torment of an already suffering messiah.

Jesus had said, “The ruler of this world [ the devil] is coming, and he has nothing in Me “ (John 14:30). Christ knew the forces of darkness would battle against Him, but He also knew they would have no control over Him in any way!

Whether this alludes to an attack by demonic spirits or to the wicked men who railed against Him that day, the “bulls of Bashan” added to the mental torment.

This is why Ezekiel 39.18 characterizes the future “princes of the earth” who will be slain at Armageddon as “bulls . . . of Bashan.” In my opinion, the Antichrist will be transgenic (i.e., a new type of Nephilim).

For dogs have surrounded Me;

The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.

They pierced My hands and My feet; (Psalm 22:16)

Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. (Psalm 22:20-21)

The Psalmist asks for deliverance from 4 things:

1. The Sword

2. The power of the dog

3. The Lion's mouth

4. The horns of the wild ox

The Lord Jesus had actually been the first to speak of dogs. In Matthew 7:6 He said, "Do not give that which is holy to the dogs." The "dogs" here refer to the Pharisees, the religious people, the Judaizers.

There are likely many things that happened that day that people did not see and no one understands. There are many things that happened in the invisible realm on that day that no one could see or understand

God calls homosexuals dogs--not "gays" (Deuteronomy 23:18; Revelation 22:15, referring to male prostitutes, and their common mode of sexual relations).

Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Lord Jesus referred to the Canaanite woman as a dog

"You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 23:18)

All the prosperous of the earth

Shall eat and worship;

All those who go down to the dust

Shall bow before Him,

Even he who cannot keep himself alive. (Psalm 22:29)

God is not against you prospering. It does not make him nervous or jealous

As long as the LORD is a priority in your life.

Chapter 22