The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Dogs” it comes from the Hebrew Word “keleb” which means “dogs.”
David’s most anguished psalm opens with words Jesus Himself would later cry from the cross. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Psalm 22.
David cries out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” describing crying by day and by night without answer, yet acknowledging God is holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel, since their fathers trusted in Him and were delivered.
David describes his suffering in vivid, prophetic detail, calling himself a worm and no man, a reproach of men, and despised by the people, all who see him laughing him to scorn, his bones out of joint, his heart like wax melted in the midst of his bowels, his strength dried up like a potsherd, his tongue cleaving to his jaws, describing how “dogs,” “keleb” in Hebrew, have compassed him, the assembly of the wicked enclosing him, piercing his hands and his feet, and parting his garments among them, casting lots for his vesture, imagery Christians throughout history have recognized as remarkably anticipating the crucifixion centuries before it occurred.
Remarkably, this psalm of deep anguish turns dramatically toward praise, David vowing to declare God’s name to his brethren, praising Him in the midst of the congregation, since He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, nor hidden His face from him, closing with a sweeping vision of worship extending to all the ends of the earth, and future generations yet unborn who shall be told of the Lord, declaring that He has done this, a stunning movement from the depths of forsakenness to a vision of worldwide, generational praise.
This psalm’s opening cry, quoted directly by Jesus from the cross, and its startlingly specific imagery of pierced hands and feet and divided garments, make it one of Scripture’s most remarkable prophetic anticipations of the crucifixion, written centuries before crucifixion even existed as a Roman practice. Its dramatic turn from utter forsakenness to worldwide praise mirrors the gospel’s own movement from the cross’s darkness to resurrection’s triumphant, universal hope.
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