May 8
Ps 22-26
In Psalm 22, a messianic Psalm, in which Jesus drew everyone's attention to while hanging on the cross, as He recited the first verse in 22:1, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?..." The Jewish individuals surrounding the cross would know this Psalm by heart. We come to 22:6, "But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people." The common word, "worm" in Hebrew used elsewhere in the Bible is "rimmah" which refers to a maggot. But in this Psalm, the word used is "tola", or "Crimson or Scarlet worm". When the female tola is to have babies (once in her lifetime), she attaches to a tree trunk and fastens herself to it (cannot be removed without tearing her apart). She then lays her eggs under her body, and protection shell. For the next few days the babies are protected and feed on the living body of the mother. After a few days the mother dies giving life to her children, as she oozes a scarlet dye which stains both the offspring and the wood she was attached to. The mother turns white and falls to the ground like snow. We cannot miss the analogy written by David over 1000 years before the earthly ministry of Jesus, but concerning Jesus who was fastened to the cross, as we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for us. We read in Isaiah 1:18, "“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.", and 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.". Thank you, Jesus!!
Psalm 22 was always deemed Messianic by the Jewish people in earlier times. The rabbis who wrote the Talmud and Midrash interpreted this psalm as Messianic, for example in Midrash Peskita Rabbat (chap 36-37), and Yakult Shimoni (#687). But the vision of a Messiah who suffered and died for the sins of the people, in this along with other portions, such as the Suffering Servant passages in Isaiah, as contrasted to the conquering Messiah as presented in many other portions of Scripture, was a problem for the Jewish people since they largely rejected Jesus at His first coming. In Psalm 22:16, we read, "For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They have pierced My hands and My feet;". Realize crucifixion as presented here was not popularized until over 800 years later by the Romans. The most ancient Hebrew texts: The Greek Septuagint, the Aramaic Targums and the Latin Vulgate (400BC - 300 AD), translated by the ancient scribes and rabbis universally used the Hebrew word, "karv" or pierced in this verse. It was only in the modern versions, using the Masoretic Hebrew text which changed the word "karv" to "kari" which means "like a lion" which changed the meaning for Jewish individuals now reading this text. Sadly, such changes, along with casting away portions of Scripture, like Isaiah 53, which is not read in synagogues, has taken away the understanding of Jesus as Messiah to the Jewish people.
As you read through the entirety of Psalm 22, you can't miss the scene in the vivid prophecy concerning the crucifixion of King Jesus. We should not shake our heads in dismay at how the leaders have blinded many of the people following Judaism. Those raised in Christian denominations are not brought into a relationship simply because they were raised Christian, Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox. We read in Romans 11:19-21, " You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either." If you have not humbled yourself, seeing the undeserving sinner that you are, and repented or changed your mind about your sins, then you have not entered into a relationship with Messiah Jesus. He has done it all. But we cannot accept His worthiness unless we acknowledge our own unworthiness. The spirit of unbelief is present everywhere. May we humbly remember the basis of our standing as we read Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." It is available to everyone but sought after by so few.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: