Psalm 22
Geneva Study Bible
<> My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
<> My {a} God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my {b} roaring?

(a) Here appears that horrible conflict, which he sustained between faith and desperation.

(b) Being tormented with extreme anguish.

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the {c} praises of Israel.

(c) He means the place of praising, even the tabernacle or else it is so called, because he gave the people continuous opportunity to praise him.

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
But I am a {d} worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

(d) And seeming most miserable of all creatures, which referred to Christ, and in this appears the unspeakable love of God for man, that he would thus abase his son for our sakes.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
But thou art he that took me out of the {e} womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

(e) Even from my birth you have given me opportunity to trust in you.

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's {f} belly.

(f) For unless God's providence preserves the infants, they would perish a thousand times in the mother's womb.

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Many bulls have compassed me: strong {g} bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

(g) He means that his enemies were so fat, proud and cruel that they were more like beasts than men.

They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
I am poured out like {h} water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

(h) Before he spoke of the cruelty of his enemies, and now he declares the inward grief of the mind, so that Christ was tormented both in soul and body.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou {i} hast brought me into the dust of death.

(i) You permitted me to be without all hope of life.

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they {k} pierced my hands and my feet.

(k) Thus David complained as though he were nailed by his enemies in both hands and feet, but this was accomplished in Christ.

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
Deliver my soul from the sword; my {l} darling from the power of the dog.

(l) My life that is solitary, left alone and forsaken by all, Ps 35:17,25:16

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
{m} Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

(m) Christ is delivered with a more mighty deliverance by overcoming death, than if he had not tasted death at all.

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
Ye that fear the LORD, {n} praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

(n) He promises to exhort the Church that they by his example might praise the Lord.

For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the {o} afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

(o) The poor afflicted are comforted by this example of David, or Christ.

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my {p} vows before them that fear him.

(p) Which were sacrifices of thanksgiving which they offered by God's commandment, when they were delivered out of any great danger.

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
{q} The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

(q) He alludes still to the sacrifice.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.
For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
All they that be fat {r} upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: {s} and none can keep alive his own soul.

(r) Though the poor are first named as in Ps 22:26 yet the wealthy are not separated from the grace of Christ's kingdom.

(s) In whom there is no hope that he will recover life: so neither poor nor rich, quick nor dead will be rejected from his kingdom.

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
{t} A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

(t) Meaning, the prosperity which the Lord keeps as a seed to the Church to continue his praise among men.

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath {u} done this.

(u) That is, God has fulfilled his promise.

The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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