12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13 Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

While this psalm was written to depict the troubles of the Psalmist in his own day, there are at least three references to our Lord’s suffering on the cross. The Psalm begins with: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As we consider suffering, there is nothing worse than to feel that God has forsaken us and we are all alone. This was indeed the case with our Lord as he was separated from the Father when he took our sin upon himself. Even though he had never committed a single sin, he had to die with the guilt of every sin ever committed by mankind. It was because of this guilt of sin (our sin) that God turned his back on his only Son as he was punished for that which he had not done. Jesus was indeed forsaken by God.

As if this were not enough, while enduring this rejection by God, those who stood by mocked him in his suffering. They did not realize they were quoting prophecy but they did indeed quote from Ps. 22:8: "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Even knowing that he must die from sin, separated from the Father, he still “entrusted himself to him who judges righteously”. (1 Pet. 2:23) The mockers thought by these words they had proven that Jesus was an imposter and guilty of sin but however, they were actually fulfilling the plan of God. The very words they uttered were fulfillment of prophecy and thus proof that Jesus was God’s Son.

And then in vs. 18 of our text: “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” Completely helpless (by submission to God’s will), Jesus hung, dying on the cross as the soldiers gambled over his only earthly possessions; his clothing. This is God’s love for each of us.

O God, heavenly Father, flood my heart with the realization of what Jesus has done for me. As his great suffering sinks into my soul, let me use it to make me more determined to yield my life to you and to your will. Forgive my stubborn heart and my prideful ways. Use me to share the good news of salvation with those who do not yet know Jesus as their savior. Help me to leave an example that others can follow and know you. In Jesus’ name.

May God bless each of us as we humbly yield ourselves to him.