Last Sunday, I attended the public worship at Evangelical Covenant Church of Manila (ECCM) where my wife and youngest son are members. The pastor delivered an unusual message for Christmas based on Psalm 22:1-31. He talked about suffering.
Christmas is generally a time for festivity and celebration. To talk of suffering during this season is awkward and untimely. However, since the church is presenting a series of expositions of the book of Psalms, the situation is understandable.
The text discusses David's suffering. It is also considered prophetic and Messianic looking forward to the suffering of Jesus on the cross for mankind's salvation. As such, the gospel gives hope to those who are facing extreme situations in life where man usually responds in desperation, hopelessness, and despondency.
The text is long - 31 verses. I will not post it here for it will take too much space. I will quote when necessary.
The Central Idea
While I was listening to the message, I was taking down notes. I was analyzing the structure of the passage and trying to grasp its central idea. After several minutes of reflection, I came up with three points focusing on suffering and abandonment as the central theme. I see this theme as very relevant for our time, particularly for those people who are experiencing the lowest point in their lives.
This reminds me of people during the Great Depression in the 1930s and those who suffered broken relationships and marriages. History tells us that not a few committed suicide when their businesses went bankrupt. Such tragic incidents were repeated though on a smaller scale during the 2008 housing market crash. The most tragic story I read at that time was about a couple who decided to kill their children and commit suicide later after being laid off from their jobs. They see this world as cruel and they don't want to leave their children without them. Though this unfortunate story happened 16 years ago, still it seems unreal and more suitable as a plot for K-drama. I also know of one man who hanged himself after being abandoned by his wife for another man. Experiences like these describe a situation where a person hits rock bottom in his life.
It is one thing to suffer extreme trials in life such as described above and another thing to be left alone by those people whom you trust. Just one of these is heavy enough a load to carry for one person. If you suffer financial loss but if your family is with you, the pain is bearable. At least, you have people who can provide you with the necessary emotional support. I cannot describe the pain of those abandoned by people whom they love when they are at the lowest point of their lives.
Exegetical Basis
To provide the exegetical basis for the central theme requires more time. Reading the passage, two things are clear - it describes a situation that was true to the psalmist and at the same time points to a future in the coming of the Messiah. Due to the limitation of time, I cannot identify precisely the exact historical background when King David experienced such a low point in his life. In the case of Jesus, the New Testament tells us that the Psalm talks about his suffering on the cross. The fourth word in the seven last words of Jesus on the cross is taken from the opening verse of the chapter:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Analytical Question
Skipping the exegetical basis, the relevant question to ask is this:
How would you respond when you hit rock bottom and abandoned?
Faced with such a situation, human responses vary. Such difference depends on diverse factors such as personality traits, coping mechanisms, past experiences, beliefs and values, social support, education, and others. Some will get angry with life. Others will be despondent and depressed. Many will find such a situation as hopeless.
After describing the nature of his suffering, the psalmist's response is difficult to explain apart from the grace of God.
Suffering and Abandonment Described, verses 1 - 5.
Here's how the psalmist describes his suffering:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.
At the lowest point of his life, David longed for God's presence and response. Such an assurance of divine presence and communication would help alleviate his suffering. However, instead of God's presence, David describes that God abandoned him during his deepest struggle.
Have you experienced similar suffering? Have you suffered the lowest point of your life and your spouse, instead of providing you comfort, has left you for another lover? How painful is such a loss? Some would consider death more bearable than living with such pain. Others would take years or even decades to recover from such an emotional wound.
What makes David's suffering even more unbearable is the conventional belief about God's present reign and past deeds. His suffering runs contrary to the fact that God reigns on his throne. Moreover, God's deeds in the past of His people's deliverance make the psalmist situation more puzzling. If it is true that God still sits on his throne and his acts of salvation in the past, why is he withdrawing and not responding to David's suffering? This is not an easy question to answer.
Praying for God's Presence and Help Amid Extreme Suffering and Insults, verses 6 -21.
What I find surprising in David's response when undergoing extreme suffering is the way he describes himself in contrast to his tormentors. He describes himself as "a worm and not a man" (v. 6). When a worm is crushed, it just writhes "in pain." Unlike human nature, we tend to react like a viper when crushed.
David's tormentors are described in beastly figurative languages such as:
Many bulls
Strong bulls
Roaring lions
Dogs, and
Wild oxen
What can a worm do when crushed by these wild beasts?
You can read David's prayerful response in verses 19 to 21:
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.
Giving God All the Glory Despite the Seeming Abandonment and Silence, verses 22 - 31.
The last section of the chapter demonstrates David's worshipful response to suffering which can be categorized as follows:
Encouraging others to join in glorifying God despite affliction.
Recognizing God's faithfulness though you don't understand what you're going through.
Declaring God's righteousness to future generations. This is a missional response.
Sharing a personal testimony and commitment.
Recognizing the sovereignty of God.
Gaining an eternal perspective. Even though suffering does not make sense in human history or time, if viewed from the perspective of eternity, everything will find its meaning in the end.
All in all, though David did not understand God's abandonment and silence, he concluded the chapter with a triumphant declaration, affirming ultimate victory over suffering.