What does Psalm 22:5 mean?

Scripture indicates that "faith" involves trust based on experience (Hebrews 11:13–16). Between verses 4 and 5, David mentions trust three times. Not only does David's own personal experience strengthen his faith (1 Samuel 17:37), he also can look back on the example of his Jewish ancestors.

Those patriarchs cried out to the Lord and were rescued. They trusted in the Lord and did not experience the shame of being subdued by their enemies and circumstances. Examples of such episodes may be drawn from Israel's wilderness wanderings. The strong forces of the Canaanites could not subdue the Israelites, nor could dire circumstances overwhelm them. Israel's God did not turn a deaf ear to His people. Psalm 107:4–6 relates: "Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress."

Exodus 17 provides the historical account of how the Lord delivered His people from extreme thirst by providing water from a rock and by defeating the Amalekites. Also, the book of Judges is full of stories of how the Lord delivered the people of Israel from their oppressors when they turned to Him. Such accounts of the Lord's past deliverance would encourage David to trust and not despair.