Christ Forsaken in Psalm 22

Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus Christ was forsaken by God. He affirmed this by His own statement, and He cannot lie. Our understanding of what this means is limited, and it difficult to conceive of God forsaking His beloved Son. But God truly did forsake Jesus Christ. What does it mean to be forsaken by God? Psalm 22 offers some insight. Christ quoted from this psalm when he cried, “why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1;

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”

Thus it may be perceived as describing some of the experience of being God=forsaken. God was unresponsive to His cries as verses 1-6 show;

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.”

And far removed from helping verse 11 shows;

“Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.”

Verses 7 and 8 shows us that man was merciless in his hostility,

“All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

Yet God seemed absent in verse 11…

“Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.”

Christ was overcome by this sense of helplessness verses 12 and 13 read;

“Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.”

and was utterly powerless in verses 14 and 15;

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.”

The psalm describes crucifixion in verses 16 through 18;

“For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

Thus offering this answer: For the Son of God to be crucified was to be forsaken by God. Something none of us truly know, yet those in Christ will never have to endure.