What does it mean that as Jesus was dying on the Cross He had the words of the first two verses of this lament psalm on His lips? I find a great deal of solace that Jesus cried out this question to His heavenly Father in the midst of suffering. It communicates to me how important Scripture, the Word of God, was to Jesus at a time like this. It also tells me that when I am suffering, or when I am wondering why something has happened, I am in good company. It is alright to ask God “why? Why do I feel so alone and that you have left me? Why can I not get out of my experience of isolation, my feeling low, and even my wonderment over whether God cares?
Psalm 22 is really a good example of the type of psalm that makes up over one-third of the 150 psalms, the lament psalm. The song starts by leading us into “the uttermost depths of suffering, a suffering which brought the worshipper to the brink of the grave and reduced him to utter despair.” (Artur Weiser, Psalms). But then the psalmist remembers what God has done for him in the past and places his or her trust in a faithful God. Some have said that by His use Jesus really was using the whole psalm. Others have said that Jesus felt the whole weight of human sin on His back and therefore was brought so low. I don’t think so. I believe Jesus was experiencing and knows our pain, our suffering, our aloneness at times such as death.
There are lots of times in our lives when we may sound like Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh and wish things were different. That begins at getting to understand the role of lament in our prayer life, in our worship life. But to pray to God in a totally honest way and say “I don’t understand how when I need you most you are not there” is a way of saying: “God, you are God, but I need your help right now. Help me to feel closer to you.”
We are living at a time when many are feeling isolated right now. It is important to reach out to people and connect with them in whatever way you can. But it is also vital to our spiritual life to be able to pray to God and say, “I don’t understand what is going on right now. Where are you? I need to feel your presence?” When injustice happens and people get killed in a totally unjust way comparative to no or any violation on their part, we may ask God “why?” In doing so, we are acknowledging God is still God, and counting on His presence and for justice over time.”
“But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my (our) aid!”
(Psalm 22:19)
“God, we are thankful that you do not judge us for our questions, but encourage us to hang on to you. Help us to wait patiently for your answers, but to realize your presence even now. Amen.”
Pastor Roger
Tomorrow: Psalm 100 “Hymns of Joy”
