The Gospel According to King David

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Greg had us close our eyes on Sunday as we listened to him recite portions of Psalm 22. That text is one of the most powerful proofs of the historical authenticity of the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Written almost 1000 years before Jesus hung on that cross, King David was moved by God to write the prophesy in the form of lyrics to a new hymn: inspired lyrics that describe in uncanny detail what Jesus would go through in His final hours. David even suggested to the royal worship director that it should be sung to the tune of another well-known song of that time.

Our devotional time today is simple: read the lyrics to the full song while picturing Jesus being described throughout it. If you want to close your eyes and just listen to it being read for you, click here. (note: the version is slightly different, but the reader has a good voice).

Psalm 22
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me,
   so far from my cries of anguish?
2My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. 
3Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. 
4In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.
5To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8“He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he   
   delights in him.”
9Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
12Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.
14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax;
   it has melted within me.
15My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay  
   me in the dust of death.
16Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
17All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.
18They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
19But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.
23You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
   Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his  
   face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
25From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I  
   will fulfill my vows.
26The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him—may your hearts  
   live forever!
27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the  
   nations will bow down before him,
28for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.
29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before  
   him—those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.
31They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!


Please join me in prayer: Heavenly Father, when Greg spoke about the graves opening up at the death of Jesus and godly people coming back to life, I was reminded that because Jesus died for me, I also will be coming back to life to live with You forever. Praise Jesus!  Amen.

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