Psalm 22, the Psalm of David

This is a poem written of David and his life struggles, he suffered for so many years and so he wrote poems about his sufferings. He had enemies who sought his life for instance king Saul, his son Absalom among others who hunted him down like an animal. He was like a prey being pursued by a predator. That is why he uses poetry in describing his enemies as animals (lions, dogs) for instance, in verses 12, 13 and 16. Note that verse 16 in the Christian bible is mistranslated as “they pierced my hands and feet” but that’s not what the original text says which is why I quote the Jewish bible for this one.

Psalm 22:12-13

v12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. v13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. (KJV)

Psalm 22:16

v17 For dogs have encompassed me; A company of evil-doers have inclosed me; Like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet. (JPS)

Of course Christians translate verse 16 as “they pierced my hands and feet” because it sounds a lot like Jesus crucifixion. If we are going to interpret this poetic Psalm literally, then in that case the passage can apply to anyone who has ever been crucified throughout history, why assume the passage is only referring to Jesus? Moreover, the fact that we can find such mistranslations in the Christian bibles means Christians are willing at all cost to shoe horn Jesus back in the Hebrew Scriptures even at the expense of altering the text which is not being honest at all. *Note that this passage in the Christian bible is in verse 16 while in the Jewish bible is in verse 17

Psalm 22:18-20

v18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.  v19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.  v20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. (KJV)

John 19:24

 v24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. (KJV)

“They part my garments among them, and Cast Lots upon my vesture.” Sounds a lot like Jesus garments gambled among soldiers at his crucifixion. However, if you continue reading the psalm, the psalmist is pleading for help from God, he wants his soul to be delivered from the sword and power of the dog as he puts it which refers to his enemies. Did Jesus ask God to haste and deliver his soul from the sword? At the crucifixion you are only crucified with nails so the phrase in verse 20 “deliver my soul from the sword” cannot apply to Jesus it can only apply to the owner of the psalm, David. Furthermore, verses 21 and 22 the psalmist cries out to God to save him from the lion’s mouth. Like I stated earlier the psalmist is using poetry so his not being saved from a literal lion, rather lion is a metaphor which describe his enemies.

Psalm 22:21-22

v21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. v22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (KJV)

In fact the beginning or introduction of the psalm tells you the context of what the psalm is all about and who it is describing. The beginning of the Psalm clearly states “A Psalm of David.”

Psalm 22:1

v1 To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (KJV)

The Psalm is describing David’s struggles with his enemies and if you can find parallels between David’s life and Jesus’, so can many other people. How many people have been pierced (crucified) before? A lot, how many people have been betrayed by a close friend before? A lot, how many people have cried to God and felt forsaken? A lot, how many people have enemies who are plotting to kill or see their downfall? A lot, how many people have asked God to deliver their soul? A lot of people have. Anyone can find parallels between their life and that of the Psalmist. The words of the Psalmist can apply to himself, to Jesus and many other people. Therefore, Psalm 22 in its original context applies to the author himself. You can find parallels or relate it to yourself or anyone’s life if you want to but it belongs to David alone and his struggles, it was never intended to be a messianic prophecy.