and to him in the prosecution of it. The Spirit of prophecy rises from what related to the king, to
that which is peculiar to Christ; none other is blessed for ever, much less a blessing for ever.
Verses 7–13
The psalmist teaches to look forward with faith, and hope, and prayer upon what God would
further do. The success with which God blessed David, was a type of the total overthrow of all
Christ's enemies. Those who might have had Christ to rule and save them, but rejected him and
fought against him, shall find the remembrance of it a worm that dies not. God makes sinners willing
by his grace, receives them to his favour, and delivers them from the wrath to come. May he exalt
himself, by his all-powerful grace, in our hearts, destroying all the strong-holds of sin and Satan.
How great should be our joy and praise to behold our Brother and Friend upon the throne, and for
all the blessings we may expect from him! yet he delights in his exalted state, as enabling him to
confer happiness and glory on poor sinners, who are taught to love and trust in him.
Chapter 22
Chapter Outline
Complaints of discouragement. (1–10)
With prayer for deliverance. (11–21)
Praises for mercies and redemption. (22–31)Verses 1–10
The Spirit of Christ, which was in the prophets, testifies in this psalm, clearly and fully, the
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. We have a sorrowful complaint of God's
withdrawings. This may be applied to any child of God, pressed down, overwhelmed with grief
and terror. Spiritual desertions are the saints' sorest afflictions; but even their complaint of these
burdens is a sign of spiritual life, and spiritual senses exercised. To cry our, My God, why am I
sick? why am I poor? savours of discontent and worldliness. But, “Why hast thou forsaken me?”
is the language of a heart binding up its happiness in God's favour. This must be applied to Christ.
In the first words of this complaint, he poured out his soul before God when he was upon the cross,
Mt 27:46. Being truly man, Christ felt a natural unwillingness to pass through such great sorrows,
yet his zeal and love prevailed. Christ declared the holiness of God, his heavenly Father, in his
sharpest sufferings; nay, declared them to be a proof of it, for which he would be continually praised
by his Israel, more than for all other deliverances they received. Never any that hoped in thee, were
made ashamed of their hope; never any that sought thee, sought thee in vain. Here is a complaint
of the contempt and reproach of men. The Saviour here spoke of the abject state to which he was
reduced. The history of Christ's sufferings, and of his birth, explains this prophecy.