Alone
READ: Psalm 22
Do you ever feel alone? Do you ever feel like no one cares, no one loves you, and pretty much hopeless? All of us can probably relate a time in our life when we felt this way – maybe only for a few hours or a day, maybe for months at a time. Maybe you’re going through such a time right now...
Psalm 22 was written by David and looks ahead to when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Many of these same verses are familiar to us from the New Testament Gospels relating Jesus’ crucifixion. Verse 6-8 reminds us of the crowds that turned on Jesus, the Pharisees that hated Jesus, the onlookers that taunted Jesus by saying that he should prove his divine nature by saving himself (Matthew 27:39-44). Verses 12-13 remind us of the throng of depraved humanity and the droves of the devil that surrounded Jesus that day (see Gen 3:15 and 1 Peter 5:8). Verses 14-18 remind us of the cruelty and suffering of crucifixion. And verse 1 reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, taking our place in punishment for our sins. Rather than forsaking us for eternity, God forsook his own Son in our place (Matthew 27:46).
But because of Jesus, we are NEVER alone. Jesus sacrifice was acceptable to God (verse 24), those who believe will live forever (verse 27), and we are moved to praise and share our Savior with others (verses 25-31).
What a rich Psalm of God’s love for us in Jesus! We are never alone – and we will spend eternity with our Savior.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: How can sharing Jesus with others help in your feeling of being alone? How does Jesus’ unselfish sacrifice affect your daily life?
THINGS TO PRAY ABOUT: Thank God for his promise to never leave us or forsake us. Thank God for the rich blessing of forgiveness in Christ. Ask God to forgive you for the times you’ve failed to rely on him for strength and security, and ask him for the boldness to share his love with others.