The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. Psalm 19:8 The Message

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24. NKJV

Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Hebrews 3:6. 

After reading our chapter, Psalm 22, and the devotionals with Scriptures cited above, I sat in prayer with God. How do I describe or do justice to this most personal psalm David prophetically wrote about our Lord, Jesus? He went before us. He showed us the way and as I sat there in quiet, I was aware of multitudes of throngs of people behind me and with me walking with our Lord. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?…Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?…But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people…All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads…”He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”…My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death…They pierce my hands and my feet…All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me…They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment…v. 1, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 18. 

Why did He do that for us? Why does He do anything for us? I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you…You who fear the Lord, praise him!…All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!…Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!…For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help…All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations…They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!…v. 22, 23, 24, 27, 31. 

He has done it…Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:28-30. 

Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit – goes before us. He shows us the way forward with Him always and it is good. We are not alone. We are held in His Love. Can we consider the Love He gave for us? Can we imagine the Love that is here with us now? I wonder what David experienced as he wrote this psalm? Did he understand? How could he? I don’t know. God does. He let me know I am not alone ever in longing for Him and we are all together with Him. Long for Good. Long for all He has done and is doing for us, His children He loves so well. It isn’t over. We are still being written into this amazing story of God’s Love for us and He is right here. Always. With us! He is the Author…let Him guide you forward. Trust Him…He knows.