It is extremely important (because of Jesus usage) to set this Psalm in the context of the psalmists time. It is quite easy to interpret the Psalm by looking back from Jesus usage and imposing our Christian theological perspective on the Psalms struggle. Did Jesus use quotations from this Psalm as he died? Yes! The issue: did the psalmist use this psalm in a conscious effort to predict Gods coming work in Jesus? In the understanding of Peters statement in 1 Peter 1:10-12, that seems unlikely. That God was at work throughout the Old Testament was evident, but not even the angels understood what God was doing. Or, did Jesus regard some statements in the Psalm an appropriate declaration (a) of the just suffering through the actions of the wicked, and (b) of the suffering of the just not being the end of the situation of Gods work? That seems more likely. Remember, the terrible temporary physical suffering of Jesus cross was followed by the joyful, eternal resurrection of Jesus that still provides the Christian hope.
It is very easy to impose ones Christian emphasis/theology on the psalm by using Jesus quotation as a justification for doing so. The meaning of an Old Testament scripture should not be determined because it is quoted in the New Testament. There is an enormous difference between saying this is a conscious effort by the psalmist to predict Jesus Christ OR saying Jesus quoted from the psalm because it was an appropriate declaration of Jesus situation.
The Psalm powerfully and eloquently captured a basic struggle of the righteous in every century. How should the righteous reconcile Gods knowledge and power with the sufferings of the righteous? Every righteous person (Christian and pre-Christian) has struggled with that challengeespecially when righteous people struggle as a result of the deliberate actions of wicked people. The onlooker can hypothesize, but the righteous suffer must search for an answer.
The age old problem: How do we reconcile the suffering of the righteous with the power and knowledge of God? There are problems with no sufficient answers thus far.
The Psalm began with the righteous who was suffering with feeling abandoned by God. (Remember, it is possible for ones feelings and ones convictions to be in conflictfaith often questions as it grows.) Though the suffering was severe, the holiness of God was unquestionedthe solution was not that God was unjust. In fact, to the psalmist, history vindicated God. Verse 3b may be a reference to Exodus 3:7, 9. Verse 4 may be a reference to Israels exodus from Egypt. Thus, Israelites cried out, they trusted, and they were delivered. Why is that not happening to me? Have I not cried out and trusted? Why am I not delivered? (The righteous often fail to consider how long many past situations existed prior to Gods deliverance.)
The problem: the righteous who suffer often feel abandoned by God. In answering, a common reference in the Old Testament was to the Jewish exodus from Egypt. Often, we fail to realize how much time was involved in Gods response to the Israelite peoples cries. Lots of people died before a response came. More was involved than Israels distress.
The situation the righteous person encountered was severeit crushed his image of himself. He was overwhelmed by the shame he encountered. The way people treated him ridiculed himtheir actions showed him contempt in public. They ridiculed him for placing his trust in a God that did not deliver him from his suffering! If his God was of value, then his God should rescue him.
Emphasize the severity of the situation. Shame can cause enormous suffering! The psalmist endured both pain and ridicule!
The psalmist had no doubt God always had been there. God was there when he was born. God was there when he was a nursing infant. The plea: Do not be removed from me now when trouble is so near.
To the psalmist, the problem was NOT that God was not present.
The psalmist depicted his situation in pathetic terms. He was surrounded by bulls that were determined to kill him. They were strong and inescapable! Their intent could not be more deadly if they were lions! He had control of nothing. He compared himself to spilt water (forces other than the water even determine its shape and where it goes). His bones were out of joint (can you imagine the pain of just the hips, the knees, the shoulders, and the elbows being out of socket or unhinged?). His insides were as unstable as shaking Jell-O. His strength had vanishedhe was as useless as a piece of broken clay pot. He was so dry his tongue stuck to the inside of his mouth. He was as good as dead!
The problem to the psalmist was his severe suffering when he knew God was there. Emphasize the pain and loneliness the psalmist felt in the situation.
To make matters worse, people like semi-tamed dogs surrounded him just waiting for him to die. They increased his misery and stared at him. He was so malnourished he was like a sack of bones bound together with skin. He did not have any strengthhe was defenseless against their attacks!
Again, emphasize how horrible the situation was.
No matter how terrible his condition was, he knew God was near him. He cried out for Gods assistance and deliverance. In his dire circumstances, God answered.
The psalm did not say how (the way in which) God answered.
Please notice: The psalmist did not say, Why did you allow me to get into such a horrible shape and suffer those things? He did not say, Why did You not come quicker? He did not criticize God for allowing him to go through that situation. Instead, he praised God for His help!
The psalmist did not criticize God for inactivity or delay.
He would not be ashamed to praise God in public. He would be a witness of Gods worthiness of praise, glory, and awe. He would declare that God does not desert the afflicted. God does not hide his face from those who cry to Him. He would not be less devoted to God because of his experience.
The psalmist was not ashamed of God and did not regard God as undeserving of praise.
Those who laughed would not continue to laugh. It was evident God was with the afflicted. Not only was God with Israel, but He also ruled (rules) the nations. Those who were as good as dead would praise God. Those who, at one time, seemed to have no posterity would be the parents of generations who praised God. The yet unborn would honor God.
The psalmist had no doubt of his vindication before those who caused him such severe suffering.
Physical suffering will be a reality for righteous people in all generations. The righteous do not praise God because all is physically fine with them all the time. Times and situations of suffering do not mean God abandoned the afflicted nor did (does) it mean God did not heed the cries of the afflicted. Gods best witnesses are those who endured suffering and continued to praise God. The suffering of the righteous does not define the character of God.
On this earth, righteousness will never eliminate physical suffering. The righteous should not bind physical well being and godly living. We are righteous because of who God is, not because righteousness is the avenue to a humans physical advantage.
For Thought and Discussion
1. Discuss why it important to set this psalm in the psalmists time. What is the issue?
a) The discussion should include this: Because of Jesus quotation of the Psalm on the cross, it is easy to impose Christian theology on the meaning of the Psalm.
b) The issue: Did the psalmist consciously predict Gods coming work in Jesus, OR did Jesus consider some statements in the Psalm appropriate for his situation?
2. What does the psalm powerfully, eloquently capture? How does it begin?
It powerfully, eloquently captures a basic struggle of the righteous in every century.
It began with a righteous person who suffered with feeling abandoned.
3. Why is the righteous persons situation severe?
It crushed his image of himself, it overwhelmed him with shame, and he felt a deep sense of contempt.
4. The psalmist did not doubt what?
He did not doubt God was there.
5. How did the psalmist depict his situation in pathetic terms? What were people like?
He was surrounded by strong bulls determined to kill him, and he could not escape. He had control of nothing. He was in enormous pain that eliminated his strength. He was useless, dehydrated, and defenseless.
6. What did the psalmist know?
He knew God was near him.
7. The psalmist did not say what?
He did not criticize God for not responding in the manner he wished.
8. He would not be ashamed to do what?
He would not be ashamed to praise God in public.
9. Discuss: Physical suffering will be a reality for righteous people in all generations.
The discussion should include the awareness that physical suffering is not to be equated with Gods abandonment.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 7