Introduction:
This psalm describes clearly the sufferings of Christ as He is crucified on the cross on Golgotha’s hill. The psalmist was setting forth the prophecy of the death of the Son of God centuries before the Savior was born.
Some say that Jesus may have repeated this psalm word for word on the cross. This psalm is certainly a gem among the psalms.
I. THE STARTLING CRY OF GOLGOTHA:
“MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?”
A. The Cry of the Crucified Son of God, v. 1; Psalms 71:11, “Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.”
1. Some said there is no help, Psalm 3:2, “Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.”
2. But our LORD’S FAITH BEAMS FORTH to hold on to His God, Psalms 31:14, “But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.”
B. Here the Savior is FORSAKEN, Psalm 42:10, “As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?”
1. The challenging of the Lord, Psalm 42:3, “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?”
2. His own beloved Father was standing afar off with back turned to Him because of our sins which He bore, Habakkuk 1:13a, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:”
C. Here Jesus abandons His meekness and ROARS so that all will know the price of Salvation, Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
1. Because Jesus was forsaken for a time, we will never be forsaken throughout all eternity, Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
2. When everyone else has forsaken us the Lord will take us up, Psalm 27:10, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.”
II. THE JEWS MOCKED, BUT THE ANGELS WORSHIPPED JESUS
A. Man despised their redeemer, vv. 6-7; Job 25:6, “How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?”
1. Man in general despised the Lord, Isaiah 49:7, “Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.” [Man despised Jesus in his soul].
2. The Jews despised their redeemer, Matthew 27:20-23, “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21- The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22- Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified . 23- And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.”
B. The angels had worshipped Him at His birth, Luke 2:13-14, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14- Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
C. Now the angels worshipped Him at His Death on the Cross as they did before His throne, Isaiah 6:2-4, “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3- And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke,”
1. His angels praise Him, Psalm 148:2, “Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.”
2. They rejoice in Heaven because Jesus has redeemed the sinner by His death on the Cross, Luke 15:7, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
D. The redeemed praised Him for the Salvation they have in Jesus Christ, Psalm 107:1-2, “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2- Let the redeemed of the LORD say so , whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”
CONCLUSION:
The Psalmist great psalm of praise for the Lord of Glory who suffered and died on the Cross of Calvary that we might be saved is one of the great psalms of all time. It brings tears of joy to those who have received Jesus as their Savior knowing the price that He paid.