SUNDAYS

This is likely the most well known Psalm, and possibly the most well known passages of the Bible. If you’ve been to a funeral, you’ve likely heard it. This psalm was a very personal psalm for David, one where most believe he wrote late in his life. You see, he looks back and reflects on his life and as a shepherd himself realizing that the Lord was a Shepherd to him as well. Another way to see the personal nature to this psalm is the usage of the first person point of view. What is really neat about this psalm is that while David writes this from the point of view of a Shepherd, we also see that it is written as a sheep. David’s position in the Lord has changed from shepherd to sheep, naming Him as the Good Shepherd. We see from this psalm that the Good Shepherd guides, provides and protects (verse 1), leads the sheep to peace and rest (verse 2), provides salvation (verse 3), corrects and comforts (verse 4), and acts as the gracious host (verses 5-6). This psalm helps us to understand how the Lord provides, and how He cares for His sheep. David was able to say this because he was a sheep of the Lord, and His sheep can say this today. Do you have the confidence to say “the Lord is my Shepherd?”

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This is an incredible psalm, that many agree helps us to see the the back side of the crucifixtion. In other words, in the Gospel accounts, particularly Matthew 27, where this Psalm is quoted or cited 4 different times, we see the narrative of the crucifixion, where here we see what the cross looked like from Jesus' point of view. In the crucifixion account(s), we are introduced to 7 final sayings of Christ, and we could make the argument that these 7 sayings are all found right here in this psalm: 

• Luke 23:34: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." This can be found in verses 7-8. 
• Luke 23:43: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." This can be found in verses 25-26. 
• Luke 23:46: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." This is found in verses 19-20. 
• John 19:26–27: "Woman, behold your son ..." this is found in verses 9-10 
• Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" This is found right at the opening of the psalm, in verse 1. 
• John 19:28: "I thirst." This is found in verse 15. 
• John 19:30: "It is finished." Finally, we see this in verse 31. 

Isn’t this psalm incredible, especially when you read it with the crucifixtion accounts in kind?  "Psalm 22 reveals the heart of our Savior as He was made a sin offering in our behalf. He completed the transaction in triumph. He offers to us a finished redemption. We never shall be worthy of it, we cannot earn it, we cannot buy it – we must receive it as a gift. Almost two thousand years ago the Lord Jesus Christ did all that was needed to save us." Do you believe in this Savior? 

(adapted from J Vernon McGee's "An X-Ray of the Cross") 

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This psalm is often paired with Psalm 20, as they both are royal psalms that play off of one another. Psalm 21 is believed to be answer to the prayer in Psalm 20. It’s really broken into three different parts. The first 7 verses focuses in on Thanksgiving. Not only thanksgiving for the victories described in Psalm 20, but also of salvation, His presence, and the trust that David has in the Lord. Verses 8-12 relay the confidence of the king to the Lord for the future. David was confident that the Lord will continue to add victories. Verse 13 closes with a request for the Lord to be exalted. I think this Psalm is a good reminder that when we have big or small victories, that we must always credit and exalt the Lord. Often times, even Christians, credit luck or chance, for victories. We must acknowledge our Lord, as providential in our lives. 

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