The following is the first half or so of Pslam 22, written approximately 1000 years before Christ was born. Also, it should be noted that the
first historical record of crucifixion is from the 6th century B.C., so it is likely that this psalm was written hundreds of years before anyone was ever crucified.
Studying this Psalm was one of the final steps that convinced me that the Bible is true, and that Jesus is who He says He is. I can think of no other rational conclusion, given the content of this psalm. To anyone who is unsure whether the Bible truly is the Word of God or simply a collection of books written by men, please take a few minutes to read this study of Psalm 22.
In Christ,
Turbo
(Passages from the Gospels are inserted in a smaller font, echoing the portion of the psalm that is above them, particularly the
bold phrases. All scriptures quoted are from NKJV)
Psalm 22:
1
My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
Matthew 27:46
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?
Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But You are holy,
Enthroned in 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.
6 But
I am a worm, and no man;
A reproach of men, and
despised by the people.
7
All those who see Me ridicule Me;
They shoot out the lip,
they shake the head, saying,
8
"He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;
Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"
Matthew 27:39-43
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, "I am the Son of God."'
Luke 23:35
And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."
9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother's womb
You have been My God.
11 Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded Me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
13 They gape at Me with their mouths,
Like a raging and roaring lion.
14
I am poured out like water,
And all My bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It
has melted within Me.
John 19:34
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And
My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.
John 19:28
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"
16 For
dogs* have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet;
Matthew 27
2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
Jesus said to him, "It is as you say." 12And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had 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!" 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.
17
I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me.
John 19:33
But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
Luke 23:35
And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."
18
They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.
Matthew 27:35
Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:
"They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots."
Mark 15:24
And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
Luke 23:34
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
And they divided His garments and cast lots.
John 19:24
They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:
"They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots."
Therefore the soldiers did these things.
19 But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20
Deliver Me from the sword,
John 19:34
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
My precious life
from the power of the dog*. (Roman Empire)
Luke 3:1
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
Luke 23:24
So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
21 Save Me from the lion's mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!
(* “dog” is a pejorative term for Gentile. See Mat 15:22-28; also Rev. 21:12, 22:15; Ps. 59:5-7,13-15, 1 Sam. 17:43, and 2 Ki. 8:13)
