 |  |
At Psa. 22: 22 a sudden change takes place. Death and suffering is passed and in
resurrection we now see the Throne and the universal kingdom of the Lord in all its
fulness and glory:
"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord: and all the kindreds
of the nations shall worship before Thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's and He is the
Governor among the nations" (22: 27, 28).
All on earth in that day shall bow down before Him and give Him His rightful place,
anticipating that more glorious day when the whole universe including all in heaven and
under the earth shall bow the knee and own that Jesus Christ is LORD SUPREME
(Philippians 2: 9-11). First the Cross and then the Crown.
The Psalmist ends by extolling the Lord's righteousness and His mighty power, for
"He hath done this" (22: 31). The Companion Bible points out that these words are the
equivalent of "It is finished". Thus we have the mighty work of redemption
accomplished and finished by the Lord on the cross, "the sufferings", and then "the glory
to follow", the purpose of God finished when the kingdom is established and Christ is
owned as Lord of all.
Psalm 23:
This has been called the Pearl of the Psalms and there was a time when most of those
who profess to be Christians could recite it from memory. Children in Christian families
were taught it in this way, but with the landslide from the truth of God that we see all
around us, we doubt very much if this is so today. It has been called the Shepherd Psalm
because of verse 1, but it would be a mistake to make this the one theme throughout. In
verses 3 and 4 we have the Guide and the traveler, and in verses 5 and 6 the Host and the
guest, so that this precious Psalm is portraying the truths of provision, direction and
communion of the child of God. It is all intensely individual. Primarily David was
applying it to himself, but surely God's family of all generations, can join in here,
experiencing what the Lord can be to them at all times.
If the first part of verse 1 is true, then the second part most surely follows. If each one
of us can appropriate the Lord Jesus for himself by faith, if we all can say as Paul did,
"the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2: 20), then all anxiety
will vanish and we can rest assured that we shall never want. Although the days grow
darker and more difficult yet this is still true and will be true for always. The faithful
shepherd not only protects his sheep from harm and danger, he guides them into rich
pastures, feeds and cares for them so that they are in need of nothing that is essential to
their well-being. If only we could always believe this, how much worry and strain would
be avoided!
It has been said with truth it is worry that kills, not hard work. Yet both the apostles
Paul and Peter show us the antidote, "Casting all your care upon Him: for He careth for
you" (I Pet. 5: 7). "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which