Psalm 22:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

NIV: He trusts in the LORD,' they say, 'let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.'

NASB: 'Turn him over to the Lord; let Him save him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.'

CSB: "He relies on the Lord; let him save him; let the Lord rescue him, since he takes pleasure in him."

NLT: 'Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!'

KJV: He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

NKJV: “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

This statement is being spoken in sarcasm, by David's taunting opponents. In a time where he feels abandoned by God (Psalm 22:1–2), part of his hardship is hearing others mock his pain (Psalm 22:6–7). Enemies laugh at his trust, suggesting it was unfounded. According to ungodly thinking, if David's trust in the Lord was valid, he would not be in this situation. Their words are intended to be insulting. All the same, these are part of a prophetic look at the experience of the Messiah (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1).

As He died on the cross Jesus encountered the same sarcastic accusation from the religious leaders. They called out: "He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God'" (Matthew 27:43). The two robbers who were crucified with Jesus also mocked Jesus' trust in the Lord. Matthew 27:44 says they "also reviled him in the same way."

Of course, Jesus' heavenly Father delivered Him out of death by raising Him to life on the third day. The ultimate conclusion of this psalm is that God will not eternally abandon those He loves (Psalm 22:22). In his address to the Jews at Pentecost the apostle Peter proclaimed Jesus as having been delivered up for crucifixion by "the definite plan and foreknowledge of God" and raised up by God (Acts 2:23–24).

Psalm 22:1–21 depicts David's questioning of God's silence and estrangement from him in his desperate situation. The structure of this prayer, and the images it evokes, are prophecies of Messiah's sufferings. Isaiah 53:3–8 likewise predicts these experiences and explains that Messiah endured them for us sinners. Matthew 27:46 reports that Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 when he was suffering on the cross. First Peter 2:24 –25 refers to the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah and calls Jesus ''the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.''

This psalm may be divided into two parts. The first part, verses 1–21, contains an urgent prayer, in which the suppliant questions a holy God's distance from him in his time of suffering. It also contains a graphic description of the Messiah's suffering. Messiah's suffering included humiliation, the taunts of unbelievers, a distressful sense of loneliness, and intense physical pain. The second part of the psalm continues a prayer to be delivered, and includes a glimpse of resurrection and exaltation. The psalm praises God and announces a future time when God will receive worldwide acclaim and worship.

This psalm of David should be understood in association with Psalms 23 and 24. Psalm 22 describes the sufferings of the Good Shepherd, Jesus, for His sheep. Psalm 23 describes His care for His sheep. Psalm 24 describes His return in glory to reward His sheep. Psalm 22 includes prophetic sayings which Jesus uttered from the cross. It also predicts the afflictions he endured there (Matthew 27:27–56; Luke 22:63–65; 23:18–49). Isaiah 53 also prophesies the sufferings that Jesus suffered on the cross.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.