A purpose fulfilled-
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Psalm 22:22 (ESV) 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;
Some comments on the entire Psalm-
This is a kind of gem among the Psalms, and is peculiarly excellent and remarkable. It contains those deep, sublime, and heavy sufferings of Christ, when agonizing in the midst of the terrors and pangs of divine wrath and death which surpass all human thought and comprehension. I know not whether any Psalm throughout the whole book contains matter more weighty, or from which the hearts of the godly can so truly perceive those sighs and groans, inexpressible by man, which their Lord and Head, Jesus Christ, uttered when conflicting for us in the midst of death, and in the midst of the pains and terrors of hell. Wherefore this Psalm ought to be most highly prized by all who have any acquaintance with temptations of faith and spiritual conflicts.—Martin Luther.
A prophecy of the passion of Christ, and of the vocation of the Gentiles.—Eusebius of Cæsarea.
Verses 22-31:
From the Matthew Henry Commentary-
The same that began the psalm complaining, who was no other than Christ in his humiliation, ends it here triumphing, and it can be no other than Christ in his exaltation. And, as the first words of the complaint were used by Christ himself upon the cross, so the first words of the triumph are expressly applied to him (Heb. 2:12) and are made his own words: I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. The certain prospect which Christ had of the joy set before him not only gave him a satisfactory answer to his prayers, but turned his complaints into praises; he saw of the travail of his soul, and was well satisfied, witness that triumphant word wherewith he breathed his last: It is finished.Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (Ps 22:22–31). Peabody: Hendrickson.
From the Treasury of David-
The transition is very marked; from a horrible tempest all is changed into calm. The darkness of Calvary at length passed away from the face of nature, and from the soul of the Redeemer, and beholding the light of his triumph and its future results the Saviour smiled. We have followed him through the gloom, let us attend him in the returning light. It will be well still to regard the words as a part of our Lord’s soliloquy upon the cross, uttered in his mind during the last few moments before his death. 22. “I will declare thy name unto my brethren.” The delights of Jesus are always with his church, and hence his thoughts, after much distraction, return at the first moment of relief to their usual channel; he forms fresh designs for the benefit of his beloved ones. He is not ashamed to call them brethren, “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” Among his first resurrection words were these, “Go to my brethren.” In the verse before us, Jesus anticipates happiness in having communication with his people; he purposes to be their teacher and minister, and fixes his mind upon the subject of his discourse. The name, i.e., the character and conduct of God are by Jesus Christ’s gospel proclaimed to all the holy brotherhood; they behold the fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him, and rejoice greatly to see all the infinite perfections manifested in one who is bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh. What a precious subject is the name of our God! It is the only one worthy of the only Begotten, whose meat and drink it was to do the Father’s will. We may learn from this resolution of our Lord, that one of the most excellent methods of showing our thankfulness for deliverances is to tell to our brethren what the Lord has done for us. We mention our sorrows readily enough; why are we so slow in declaring our deliverances? “In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” Not in a little household gathering merely does our Lord resolve to proclaim his Father’s love, but in the great assemblies of his saints, and in the general assembly and church of the first-born. This the Lord Jesus is always doing by his representatives, who are the heralds of salvation, and labour to praise God. In the great universal church Jesus is the One authoritative teacher, and all others, so far as they are worthy to be called teachers, are nothing but echoes of his voice. Jesus, in this second sentence, reveals his object in declaring the divine name, it is that God may he praised; the church continually magnifies Jehovah for manifesting himself in the person of Jesus, and Jesus himself leads the song, and is both precentor and preacher in his church. Delightful are the seasons when Jesus communes with our hearts concerning divine truth; joyful praise is the sure result. 23. “Ye that fear the Lord praise him.” The reader must imagine the Saviour as addressing the congregation of the saints. He exhorts the faithful to unite with him in thanksgiving. The description of “fearing the Lord” is very frequent and very instructive; it is the beginning of wisdom, and is an essential sign of grace. “I am a Hebrew and I fear God” was Jonah’s confession of faith. Humble awe of God is so necessary a preparation for praising him that none are fit to sing to his honour, but such as reverence his word; but this fear is consistent with the highest joy, and is not to be confounded with legal bondage, which is a fear which perfect love casteth out. Holy fear should always keep the key of the singing pew. Where Jesus leads the tune none but holy lips may dare to sing. “All ye the seed of Jacob glorify him.” The genius of the gospel is praise. Jew and Gentile saved by sovereign grace should be eager in the blessed work of magnifying the God of our salvation. All saints should unite in the song; no tongue may be silent, no heart may be cold. Christ calls us to glorify God, and can we refuse? “And fear him all ye the seed of Israel.” The spiritual Israel all do this, and we hope the day will come when Israel after the flesh will be brought to the same mind. The more we praise God the more reverently shall we fear him, and the deeper our reverence the sweeter our songs. So much does Jesus value praise that we have it here under his dying hand and seal that all the saints must glorify the Lord. 24. “For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted.” Here is good matter and motive for praise. The experience of our covenant Head and Representative should encourage all of us to bless the God of grace. Never was man so afflicted as our Saviour in body and soul from friends and foes, by heaven and hell, in life and death; he was the foremost in the ranks of the afflicted, but all those afflictions were sent in love, and not because his Father despised and abhorred him. ’Tis true that justice demanded that Christ should bear the burden which as a substitute he undertook to carry, but Jehovah always loved him, and in love laid that load upon him with a view to his ultimate glory and to the accomplishment of the dearest wish of his heart. Under all his woes our Lord was honourable in the Father’s sight, the matchless jewel of Jehovah’s heart. “Neither hath he hid his face from him.” That is to say, the hiding was but temporary, and was soon removed; it was not final and eternal. “But when he cried unto him, he heard.” Jesus was heard in that he feared. He cried in extremis and de profundis, and was speedily answered; he therefore bids his people join him in singing a Gloria in excelsis. 25. “My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation.” The one subject of our Master’s song is the Lord alone. The Lord and the Lord only is the theme which the believer handleth when he gives himself to imitate Jesus in praise. The word in the original is “from thee,”—true praise is of celestial origin. The rarest harmonies of music are nothing unless they are sincerely consecrated to Gad by hearts sanctified by the Spirit. The clerk says, “Let us sing to the praise and glory of God;” but the choir often sing to the praise and glory of themselves. Oh when shall our service of song be a pure offering? Observe in this verse how Jesus loves the public praises of the saints, and thinks with pleasure of the great congregation. It would be wicked on our part to despise the twos and threes; but, on the other hand, let not the little companies snarl at the greater assemblies as though they were necessarily less pure and less approved, for Jesus loves the praise of the great congregation. “I will pay my vows before them that fear him.” Jesus dedicates himself anew to the carrying out of the divine purpose in fulfilment of his vows made in anguish. Did our Lord when he ascended to the skies proclaim amid the redeemed in glory the goodness of Jehovah? And was that the vow here meant? Undoubtedly the publication of the gospel is the constant fulfilment of covenant engagements made by our Surety in the councils of eternity. Messiah vowed to build up a spiritual temple for the Lord, and he will surely keep his word. 26. “The meek shall eat and be satisfied.” Mark how the dying Lover of our souls solaces himself with the result of his death. The spiritually poor find a feast in Jesus, they feed upon him to the satisfaction of their hearts; they were famished until he gave himself for them, but now they are filled with royal dainties. The thought of the joy of his people gave comfort to our expiring Lord. Note the characters who partake of the benefit of his passion; “the meek,” the humble, and lowly. Lord make us so. Note also the certainty that gospel provisions shall not be wasted, “they shall eat;” and the sure result of such eating, “and be satisfied.” “They shall praise the Lord that seek him.” For a while they may keep a fast, but their thanksgiving days must and shall come. “Your heart shall live for ever.” Your spirits shall not fail through trial, you shall not die of grief, immortal joys shall be your portion. Thus Jesus speaks even from the cross to the troubled seeker. If his dying words are so assuring, what consolation may we not find in the truth that he ever liveth to make intercession for us! They who eat at Jesus’ table receive the fulfilment of the promise, “Whosoever eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” 27. In reading this verse one is struck with the Messiah’s missionary spirit. It is evidently his grand consolation that Jehovah will be known thoughout all places of his dominion. “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord. Out from the inner circle of the present church the blessing is to spread in growing power until the remotest parts of the earth shall be ashamed of their idols, mindful of the true God, penitent for their offences, and unanimously earnest for reconcilation with Jehovah. Then shall false worship cease, “and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee,” O thou only living and true God. This hope which was the reward of Jesus is a stimulus to those who fight his battles. 28. “For the kingdom is the Lord’s.” As an obedient Son the dying Redeemer rejoiced to know that his Father’s interests would prosper through his pains. “The Lord reigneth “was his song as it is ours. He who by his own power reigns supreme in the domains of creation and providence, has set up a kingdom of grace, and by the conquering power of the cross that kingdom will grow until all people shall own its sway and proclaim that “he is the governor among the nations.” Amid the tumults and disasters of the present the Lord reigneth; but in the halcyon days of peace the rich fruit of his dominion will be apparent to every eye. Great Shepherd, let thy glorious kingdom come. 29. “All they that be fat upon earth,” the rich and great are not shut out, Grace now finds the most of its jewels among the poor, but in the latter days the mighty of the earth “shall eat,” shall taste of redeeming grace and dying love, and shall “worship” with all their hearts the God who deals so bountifully with us in Christ Jesus. Those who are spiritually fat with inward prosperity shall be filled with the marrow of communion, and shall worship the Lord with peculiar fervour. In the covenant of grace Jesus has provided good cheer for our high estate, and he has taken equal care to console us in our humiliation, for the next sentence is, “all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him.” There is relief and comfort in bowing before God when our case is at its worst; even amid the dust of death prayer kindles the lamp of hope. While all who come to God by Jesus Christ are thus blessed, whether they be rich or poor, none of those who despise him may hope for a blessing. “None can keep alive his own soul.” This is the stern counterpart of the gospel message of “look and live.” There is no salvation out of Christ. We must hold life, and have life as Christ’s gift, or we shall die eternally. This is very solid evangelical doctrine, and should be proclaimed in every corner of the earth, that like a great hammer it may break in pieces all self-confidence. 30. “A seed shall serve him.” Posterity shall perpetuate the worship of the Most High. The kingdom of truth on earth shall never fail. At one generation is called to its rest, another will arise in its stead. We need have no fear for the true apostolic succession; that is safe enough. “It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.” He will reckon the ages by the succession of the saints, and set his accounts according to the families of the faithful. Generations of sinners come not into the genealogy of the skies. God’s family register is not for strangers, but for the children only. 31. “They shall come.” Sovereign grace shall bring out from among men the bloodbought ones. Nothing shall thwart the divine purpose. The chosen shall come to life, to faith, to pardon, to heaven. In this the dying Saviour finds a sacred satisfaction. Toiling servant of God, be glad at the thought that the eternal purpose of God shall suffer neither let nor hindrance. “And shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born.” None of the people who shall be brought to God by the irresistible attractions of the cross shall be dumb, they shall be able to tell forth the righteousness of the Lord, so that future generations shall know the truth. Fathers shall teach their sons, who shall hand it down to their children; the burden of the story always being “that he hath done this,” or, that “It is finished.” Salvation’s glorious work is done, there is peace on earth, and glory in the highest. “It is finished,” these were the expiring words of the Lord Jesus, as they are the last words of this Psalm. May we by living faith be enabled to see our salvation finished by the death of Jesus!
Thank you lord that it was finished here in the cross! Thank you that I can add nothing to your sacrifice. Thank you that it was perfect and complete. Thank you Jesus, that you have completely satisfied the justice of the Father in enduring his wrath on my behalf. Let me never consider to add anything to what you have accomplished Lord Jesus. Let me never seek to accomplish anything of my salvation but only let me worship and adore you. Let me not fret over my performance because it is your performance that the Father counted. And you did not fail- even in your humanness, you did not fail!
Mark 15:36–39 (ESV)36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” John 19:30 (ESV)30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
From the Bible Knowledge Commentary-
The centurion who stood nearby facing Jesus and observing these unusual happenings (cf. vv. 33-37) was the Gentile Roman officer in charge of the execution squad (cf. v. 20) and thus accountable to Pilate (cf. v. 44). Only Mark used the Greek word kentyriōn (“centurion”), a transliteration of the Latin word referring to a commander of 100 soldiers (also vv. 44-45). All other New Testament writers used the equivalent Greek word hekatontarchos, also translated “centurion” (e.g., Matt. 27:54). This provides additional evidence that Mark wrote to a Roman audience (see Introduction).
I am in awe Lord of the supreme satisfaction in your soul that brought you, in the flesh, to find the power within that crushed and beaten heart, those weary lungs to shout with the roar of the almighty "It is finished!" as you then willingly gave up your spirit (and the earth shook and the temple veil split)…
Matthew 27:50–52, 54 (ESV)50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
You were then complete with that redemptive purpose of which you had determined from before you made the world. You could have given up your Spirit and returned to your place on high at any point during your life on earth (even your time suffering on the cross) but you endured until the entire wrath due to your church was emptied upon you.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Application and prayer:
Thank you Lord Jesus! I surrender my heart to you who cares so deeply for me and who loves the Father so immensly that you would fulfill this duty. Let me reflect on the impact of this Psalm on my soul Lord. Let me dwell more and may you transform me because of it. Father, let me adorn the tabernacle of my heart with beauty that I might honor your Son's sacrifice. Holy Spirit, please do your sanctifying work in me and let me be more of the character of the Son, in whom's name I pray- amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Monday, July 2, 2012
It is Finished!- Part 3
Today's Reading: Psalm 22:22-31
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Thanks for commenting- I will probably post it if you dont seem to be a crazy person!