Reflections for Lent: Psalm 22

Editor’s Note:

Each Friday of the Lent season leading up to Easter, we have shared a passage of scripture that helps us reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. From before time, through Old Testament to New, this plan for God in the flesh to step down to earth and provide redemption has always been. This is the final week of Lent reflections*, and as we read the passage and think through the questions that follow, we invite you to reflect on what Christ did and His great love for us this Easter season.

The final reflection comes from Psalm 22. Written by David, in the most general sense, this psalm reflects his cry to God to save him from his enemies and ends with him thanking God for that salvation.  In a larger sense, this psalm, better than any other psalm, serves as a direct link between the Old Testament and Jesus’ passion.

Psalm 22

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

    Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,

    and by night, but I find no rest.

3 Yet you are holy,

    enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4 In you our fathers trusted;

    they trusted, and you delivered them.

5 To you they cried and were rescued;

    in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,

    scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me;

    they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;

8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him;

    let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb;

    you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.

10 On you was I cast from my birth,

    and from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Be not far from me,

    for trouble is near,

    and there is none to help.

12 Many bulls encompass me;

    strong bulls of Bashan surround me;

13 they open wide their mouths at me,

    like a ravening and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,

    and all my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like wax;

    it is melted within my breast;

15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,

    and my tongue sticks to my jaws;

    you lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs encompass me;

    a company of evildoers encircles me;

they have pierced my hands and feet—

17 I can count all my bones—

they stare and gloat over me;

18 they divide my garments among them,

    and for my clothing they cast lots.

19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off!

    O you my help, come quickly to my aid!

20 Deliver my soul from the sword,

    my precious life from the power of the dog!

21     Save me from the mouth of the lion!

You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;

    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!

    All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,

    and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or abhorred

    the affliction of the afflicted,

and he has not hidden his face from him,

    but has heard, when he cried to him. 

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;

    my vows I will perform before those who fear him.

26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;

    those who seek him shall praise the Lord!

    May your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember

    and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

    shall worship before you.

28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,

    and he rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;

    before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,

    even the one who could not keep himself alive.

30 Posterity shall serve him;

    it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,

    that he has done it.

Reflection questions:

1. Jesus quoted David’s words in verse 1 while he was on the cross [Matthew 27:46]. What other verses in Psalm 22 point to the events of Good Friday?

2. Even as David is in distress, he chooses to praise God and remember His goodness. What characteristics of God does David reference in this passage?

 3. While praising God, David points to the finished work that will ultimately come through the cross. Through Jesus, salvation is available for all. How can you live in light of this truth this week—is there some truth you need to remember in your own walk with Jesus? Is there someone in your life who you can pray for, remind, tell for the first time, or in some other way show how greatly they are loved by the Savior?

*Although this is the final Lent reflection, check back next week, as three of our writers share thoughts on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.  

Reflections for Lent: 1 Peter 1:13-25

 Editor’s Note:

Each Friday of the Lent season leading up to Easter, we will share a passage of scripture that helps us reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. From before time, through Old Testament to New, this plan for God in the flesh to step down to earth and provide redemption has always been. As you read these passages and think through the questions that follow, we invite you to reflect on what Christ did and His great love for us this Easter season.

This week’s reflection comes from 1 Peter 1:13-25

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for

“All flesh is like grass

    and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

    and the flower falls,

   but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Reflection questions:

1. Verse 20 tells us that Christ was chosen before the creation of the world to take on the penalty of our sins by dying on the cross.  This was not a plan B; this was God’s plan all along. 

Why do you think God orchestrated it in this way?

2. We are told in these verses that, as we wait for Christ’s coming, we are to be self-controlled and holy as God is holy.  What does this mean practically for you, to be self-controlled and set apart?  How are you living as an obedient child—not conforming to this world (v. 14)?

Reflections for Lent: 2 Corinthians 5: 14-21

Editor’s Note:

Each Friday of the Lent season leading up to Easter, we will share a passage of scripture that helps us reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. From before time, through Old Testament to New, this plan for God in the flesh to step down to earth and provide redemption has always been. As you read these passages and think through the questions that follow, we invite you to reflect on what Christ did and His great love for us this Easter season.

This week, we turn to 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Reflection questions:

Verse 17 states that, if you are in Christ, you are a new creation—the old ways leading to death are gone, replaced by the righteousness of Christ. Take a minute and reflect on that truth.

1. In what areas of your life are you living as a new creation?

2. If there are areas where you currently don’t feel like you are living out this promise, what needs to change (e.g. thoughts, actions) to help you better live in light of Christ’s victory on the cross?

3. If there is some area you identify as needing change, remembering what Drew touched on in this past week’s message and Pastor Joe reiterated at the end, is there someone you can invite into that space to help hold you accountable?

The definition of reconciliation is to restore to friendship or harmony two opposing sides; to end estrangement. In the biblical sense, reconciliation is to restore a right relationship between God and man. Take a minute to reflect that Jesus surrendered to God’s plan for reconciliation between God and man by dying on the cross for our sins, and gives us the ministry of reconciliation—to share the news of Christ with others.

4. Who is one person you can pray for this Lent season, that they would come to a right relationship with God?

Reflections for Lent: Isaiah 53

Editor’s Note:

Each Friday of the Lent season leading up to Easter, we will share a passage of scripture that helps us reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. From before time, through Old Testament to New, this plan for God in the flesh to step down to earth and provide redemption has always been. As you read these passages and think through the questions that follow, we invite you to reflect on what Christ did and His great love for us this Easter season.

Isaiah 53

“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

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.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

Reflection Questions:

Isaiah prophesies the coming Messiah as lowly and unimpressive, yet when Jesus came to earth, many were still looking for a mighty, flashy king— so much so, that many missed their Savior right in front of them.

Even though we don't have Jesus face to face with us today, He still wants to meet with us.

1. How are we seeking Him out?  Are we too preoccupied with wanting to see Him through big signs and miracles, that we are missing Him in the everyday, mundane moments of life?

2. How can you be more aware of your Savior today?

3. In what ways is He revealing Himself to you today?

Reflections for Lent: Romans 5:6-21

Editor’s Note:

Each Friday of the Lent season leading up to Easter, we will share a passage of scripture that helps us reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. From before time, through Old Testament to New, this plan for God in the flesh to step down to earth and provide redemption has always been. As you read these passages and think through the questions that follow, we invite you to reflect on what Christ did and His great love for us this Easter season.

Last week, we saw in Genesis 3 that at the first instance of sin, God revealed His plan for salvation. In Romans 5, we see a connection drawn between Jesus and Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Let’s read Romans 5:6-21:

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Reflection Questions:

1.    We can rejoice because we have been made friends of God.  What does it mean to be a friend of God?

2.   How is a friendship with God unique from any other friendship?

3.   How can we deepen our friendship with God?

Reflections for Lent: Genesis 3:13-15

Editor’s Note:

Each Friday of the Lent season leading up to Easter, we will share a passage of scripture that helps us reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. From before time, through Old Testament to New, this plan for God in the flesh to step down to earth and provide redemption has always been. As you read these passages and think through the questions that follow, we invite you to reflect on what Christ did and His great love for us this Easter season.

Genesis 3:13-15

“Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Reflection Questions:

1) At the first instance of sin, God already revealed His plan of salvation. Why do you think He chose to reveal this promise right then?

2) How has the Gospel shown itself while you were at your lowest?