Christ Victory Over His and Our Enemies

Day 42: Psalms 22:12-24

            Psalm 22: 12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. 13They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion. 14I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. 15My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. 16For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. 19But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! 20Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. 21Save Me from the lion’s mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen!

            There were many attacks on David and many attacks on Jesus Christ. David was betrayed by King Saul whom he had helped. David was betrayed by some of his own supporters who switched from support of David to the support of his enemy. David was mocked by Shimei who mocked, cursed, and threw literal dirt on him. David’s own son, Absalom, betrayed and sought to kill his father.

Jesus was attacked by the pharisees who should have embraced Christ. His enemies included many of the Jews and the Romans. They attacked through His ministry, but especially on the cross. Jesus was abandoned by His disciples and betrayed by Judas! These are the bulls, lions, dogs and wild oxen that David mentions, but also can be seen in the life and suffering of Christ. The bulls charge and roar. The lions roar and cause people to tremble right before they attack and tear the flesh from the bones. All the human courage just melts out of people. There is no strength, no energy to fight back. They can’t even cry for help they are so weary, so broken so worn.

            The dogs do their damage by running in and out, biting here and there, working as a team against Jesus and His children. If one should reach out their hands out to defend themselves, the dogs bite their hands. These words speak of You, Lord Jesus and Your death on the cross when they nailed Your hands and feet to the cross. The nails were the teeth of the dogs piercing, biting, and hurting. They cast lots for Your clothing.

            Isn’t it amazing that these same animals can be friends and allies? Is not Jesus the Lion of the tribe of Judah? Is not the strength of the ox a good thing when it is harnessed to do good for us? Even the dog can be a loyal and faithful friend when all others have left us. But here those animals betrayed their creator!

            As children of Christ, many of us have been attacked and abandoned by those who once supported us. There are those who charge and attack alone. There are those who roar and bite and tear. There are dogs who attack in packs and times when multitudes surround and attack. Jesus, You know our struggle and the moments of our abandonment.

Help us, O Lord. At times, we feel alone, abandoned, and neglected by our friends, but also attacked by our enemies. You alone are our strength and our help. You alone are our Deliverer and Savior. If You do not rescue us, then we are lost. O Lord hear. O Lord, help us. Apart from You there is no hope.

            Psalm 22:21b You have answered Me. 22I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

            You, O God, heard the prayer of Your Son and delivered Him. You did not abandon His soul to death but raised Him from the dead as You had planned from all eternity. It is in His deliverance that we have sure and certain deliverance and hope not just for this life, but for all eternity.

You have heard and answered my prayers. You have brought me safely through the deep waters again and again. You have let me declare Your goodness in the congregation of Your people and my brothers. I praise Your name and will praise it.

            Lord, thank You for rescuing me again and again from those who conspire against me. You have repeatedly helped me. You have given me hope when all my hope was gone. You have helped me when our child died. You walked close to my soul. Through the trials and hardships of the ministry, You, O Lord, have seen me through. You have helped my family to make it through hardships and trials. You have enabled us to speak to others of Your deliverance.

            Lord, I do not know what will come, but I know that You will help me and see me through.

            Psalm 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! 24For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.

            O Holy God, I do praise You and give testimony to Your mighty works beginning with the person and work of Christ, but extending to the application of His saving grace to all who repent and believe in Him. I call on all Your true children to praise and magnify Your name. You have delivered Your people again and again. You look down from heaven and see each one of us as individuals and all of us collectively and You provide the deliverance, the grace, the power and help that we need to walk with You, to follow You, to know Your love and to love You in return. O Lord, help us see how truly great and awesome You are. Help us to declare Your greatness, Your glory, and Your rescue to one another and to a watching world. 

            You do not abandon Your people. You have not forgotten us, nor will You ever forget us. O Jesus, in my trials and deepest despair, You have been near me to help me. Nor am I the only one.  Repeatedly Your children give testimony to Your grace and goodness. Even in the darkest night, You have provided a candle.

            You do hear and answer prayers. Your strength is especially seen in our weakness. In You we hope all day long.