Introduction
Psalm 22 stands as one of the clearest and most powerful messianic prophecies in all of Scripture. Written by David nearly one thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ, this psalm describes in precise detail the suffering, rejection, and death of the Messiah. David writes as a king, yet he speaks of a death he never experienced—crucifixion, a method not yet invented in his time.
Psalm 22 is not poetic exaggeration. It is divine revelation. It is the voice of Christ speaking through David, pointing directly to the cross.
The Cry from the Cross Foretold
Psalm 22 opens with words spoken by Jesus Himself while hanging on the cross:
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46)
This was not a cry of doubt, but a declaration of fulfillment. By quoting the opening line of Psalm 22, Jesus identified Himself as the Suffering One described in the psalm. Every Jew present knew the passage. Christ was pointing them to the prophecy unfolding before their eyes.
This moment reveals the weight of sin being placed upon the sinless Son of God, as He bore judgment in our place.
Mockery and Rejection by the Crowd
David records the scorn of onlookers with striking accuracy:
“All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” (Psalm 22:7–8)
These words are fulfilled in the crucifixion accounts:
“He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him.” (Matthew 27:43)
The mockery at the cross was not random. It was foretold. The rejection of Christ was part of God’s redemptive plan, revealing the hardness of the human heart and the depth of divine mercy.
The Physical Suffering of the Crucifixion Described
Psalm 22 describes the physical effects of crucifixion in detail unknown in David’s time:
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.” (Psalm 22:14)
“My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws.” (Psalm 22:15)
These verses reflect dehydration, dislocation, and extreme physical distress—hallmarks of crucifixion. The psalm continues:
“They pierced my hands and my feet.” (Psalm 22:16)
This statement alone confirms the prophetic nature of the psalm. David was never pierced in this way. Crucifixion had not yet been developed. Yet the Holy Spirit revealed the exact manner of the Messiah’s death.
The Casting of Lots for His Garments
One of the most precise fulfillments appears in verse 18:
“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
This was fulfilled exactly at the cross:
“They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it.” (John 19:24)
This detail was beyond human control. Roman soldiers unknowingly fulfilled prophecy as they gambled beneath the dying Savior.
From Suffering to Victory
Psalm 22 does not end in defeat. It turns from suffering to triumph:
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord.” (Psalm 22:27)
The cross was not the end—it was the doorway to salvation for all nations. The psalm declares that future generations would hear and believe:
“They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.” (Psalm 22:31)
This points directly to the finished work of Christ and the spread of the gospel after His resurrection.
The Prophetic and Redemptive Significance
Psalm 22 confirms several foundational truths:
- Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah
- The crucifixion was ordained by God, not an accident
- Salvation comes through suffering and sacrifice
- God’s plan of redemption was declared long before it was fulfilled
This psalm stands as undeniable evidence of the divine inspiration of Scripture and the identity of Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Conclusion
Psalm 22 is the gospel written in advance. It reveals the cross with clarity, purpose, and power. David’s words were not his own—they were the voice of the coming Messiah, declaring the cost of redemption and the victory that would follow.
At the cross, prophecy became history. And through that sacrifice, salvation was made available to all who believe.
The question remains not whether Psalm 22 points to Jesus—it does unmistakably. The question is whether the reader will respond to the truth it proclaims.