Prophetic Psalm 22

by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2014, all rights reserved.

Chapter 1

David, the Psalmist, didn’t have the Baptism with the Holy Ghost.  That was not available until after Jesus died, and rose again, and went back to heaven.

But the spirit of God would come on David, and on various people in the Old Testament, and they would prophesy.

There is prophecy in the 22nd Psalm.

Here is Psalm 22 from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version, (Amazon.com)

___Psalm 22

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you don't hear, and in the night season, and am not silent.

3 But you are holy, O you that inhabit the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in you, they trusted, and you gave them deliverance.

5 They cried to you, and received deliverance, they trusted in you, and were not put to shame.

6 But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 All of those who see me laugh at me scornfully, they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, and say,

8 "He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him, let him deliver him, since he delighted in him."

9 But you are he that took me out of the womb, you made me hope when I was on my mother's breasts.

10 I was thrown on you from the womb, you are my God from my mother's belly.

11 Don't be far from me, for trouble is near, for there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls have surrounded me, strong bulls of Bashan have surrounded me.

13 They gaped at me with their mouths, like a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint, my heart is like wax, it has melted among my internal organs.

15 My strength has dried up like a piece of broken pottery, and my tongue sticks to my jaws, and you've brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded me, the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me, they pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can tell all my bones, they look and stare at me.

18 They divide my garments among them, and draw straws for my vesture.

19 But don't be far from me, O Lord, O my strength, hurry to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my darling from the power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion's mouth, for you've heard me from the horns of the wild bulls.

22 I will declare your name to my brothers, among the congregation I will praise you.

23 You that fear the Lord, praise him, all of you, the seed of Jacob, glorify him, and fear him, all of you, the seed of Israel.

24 For he has not despised nor hated the affliction of the afflicted, nor has he hidden his face from him, but when he called to him, he heard.

25 My praise shall be of you in the great congregation, I will pay my vows before those who fear him.

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied, those who seek the Lord shall praise him, your heart shall live forever.

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before you.

28 For the kingdom is the Lord's, and he is the governor among the nations.

29 All of those who are fat on earth shall eat and worship, all of those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, and no one can keep his own soul alive.

30 A seed shall serve him, it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31 They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, that he has done this.

Chapter 2

Vs 1, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  That’s what Jesus said from the cross of crucifixion.

But during his life on earth, Jesus had a close relationship with God, his Father.  Jesus said it was the Father that gave him the words to speak.  It was the Father who was doing the works.  Works like healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons from people.

But on the cross, Jesus asked the Father, “Why have you forsaken me?”  I think it must have been because at some point, the sins of the world were placed on Jesus, and that caused a distancing by the Father from Jesus.  Sin separates man from God.

But the Father hadn’t entirely forsaken Jesus, because on the third day after Jesus died on the cross, God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, who was then seen by his eleven disciples, and by more than five hundred Christians.

When Jesus asked, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?,”  I don’t think it was because Jesus was wondering what the answer was.  I believe Jesus already knew the answer, and asked that question so that we would know what had happened.

But no doubt David had some feelings like that himself, as in verses 6 through 8, and verse 11.  David had to flee for his life from King Saul, who wanted David dead so that David couldn’t succeed Saul as King.

David had achieved quite a name for himself after defeating the giant Goliath, and various battles that David had fought.

The women sang, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”  This very much displeased Saul, who said, “And what can he (David) have more but the kingdom?”

But now in verses 12 through 18, I believe these verses are prophetic about Jesus.

“Strong bulls of Bashan were against Jesus, such as the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the High Priest.

Jesus hadn’t climbed their same ladder of success.  He did not accept their persons.  He didn’t flatter them.

And why should He?  He was the very only-begotten Son of God, born of a virgin.  Jesus had his mission to accomplish for his Father, God.

Jesus’ enemies would play their role by getting the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate to wrongfully sentence Jesus to death by crucifixion.

So, what is the reward for getting an innocent man put to death?  Well, there is no reward for that, and I expect that every last one of those wicked men is now burning in hell, together with Pontius Pilate.

One thing that helped persuade Pilate to crucify Jesus, the Bible says, is that Pilot saw that a riot was starting.

Yes, but as Governor, Pilate had command of Roman soldiers, with their shields, swords, spears, and body armor.  Surely some Jews rioting in the streets would be no match for Roman soldiers.

But Pilate took the easy way out, and after all, it was only the one man who was being sentenced to death.  But that one man happened to be Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, the Savior of the world.

That’s a decision Pilate will regret forever.

But Jesus told about two men.  One built his house on the sand.  The other built his house on a foundation of God’s word.  The storms came to both men.

The man with the house on the sand crashed.  The other came through O.K.

Pilate is like the man with the house on the sand.  When the storms came, Pilate was not ready.

Notice verse 18.  They divided Jesus’ garments among the soldiers while Jesus hung on the cross.  They drew straws for his coat.  So this is prophetic.

But then, from verse 19 onward, David is asking for the Lord’s help.

Vs 22-31, David praises the Lord.

The Psalms are a rich source of words of worship and praise to God, which God’s people should be doing on a regular basis.

One preacher said the Lord would be sending out angels to do things that would help us if we’ll spend time worshiping the Lord.  I believe that’s right.

But notice how much of Psalm 22 is prophetic.

Now here’s something not very much related to Psalm 22.  But lying on my bed last night, I put something into words that I had already believed, but had not put into words before.  I’d like to tell you about it.

As you are probably aware, the Lord wants his people to cast out demons from people, as we see in Mark 16:17,18,  “These signs shall follow those who believe:  In my name they shall cast out demons…”

I learned something from Norvel Hayes.  He had a situation, and the Lord said something to him to help Hayes in his situation.

The Lord said, “Your problem is that you’re not laughing at the Devil.”  After I heard Hayes say that, I started laughing at the Devil myself.

When the Lord said that to Hayes, Hayes didn’t feel much like laughing, so he forced himself to laugh at the Devil.

Sometimes, I don’t feel much like laughing, but I’ll force myself to laugh.

Here is my statement that I figured out on my bed last night:

“When casting out demons, a forced laugh is just as good as a spontaneous laugh.”

When I cast out demons, I say, “Evil spirits behind the coughing (or, whatever the problem is), how many of you are there?”  Whatever the answer, I say, “Go, and don’t return, in Jesus’ name.”  Then I force myself to laugh at the Devil.  I will often see an angel throw the demon or demons off into the distance.  Not a clear, Technicolor picture, but as in 1 Cor chapter 13, “through a glass, darkly.”

___James chapter 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,

3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.

11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.

18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.

21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,

24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2

1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,

3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"

4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

6 But you have despised the poor.  Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?

7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?

8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,

9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill."  Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.

12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.

14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works?  Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,

16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?

17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."

19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."

24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3

1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all.  If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.

4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.

5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.  See how great a matter a little fire kindles!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,

8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be.

11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries?  Or a vine, figs?  So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from?  Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?

2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.

3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"

6 But he gives more grace.  So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.

11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers.  He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?

13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"

14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."

16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5

1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.

3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire.  You've heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.

6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

8 You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.

9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.

10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 See, we count them happy that endure.  You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you afflicted?  Let him pray.  Is anyone merry?  Let him sing psalms.

14 Is anyone sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.

16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.

17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,

20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.