Psalm 22 begins with a lament. “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?”
In the verses that follow human suffering is spelled out in detail. “My heart
melts like wax within me… all my bones are out of joint… a band of dogs
surround me… they pierce my hands and feet!“ Insults and mocking and spitting
accompany the abuse heaped upon the one who cries out by day with no answer, at
night with no rest. Yet this “man of constant sorrow” trusts that the God far
off will come near and even if going down to the dust is his destiny praise
will spring forth from the grave. Some might call that fool’s hope and be more
inclined to go with Job’s wife’s advice to her long suffering (and constantly complaining) husband, “Curse God and die.” But then the
people yet unborn would not know the sacred story of the God who came so near
to humanity as to wear our flesh and die our death so that we might live God’s
life. And so we proclaim and so you
believe, “The Lord has acted.” Thanks be to God.
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