Analyzing Psalm 22: He Does Not Despise the Afflicted
Psalm 22:24-25 - Our response to God is to publicly praise Him and fulfill our promises.
”For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. From You comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.“
Psalms 22:24-25 NASB1995
Let’s think about Jesus in His last hours before the Crucifixion - the same Son of Man who was glorified entering Jerusalem less than a week previously is now despised and abhorred by the Sanhedrin, the Romans and even those same people that waved palm fronds who now call for Barabbas to be freed. But His Father does not despise or abhor Him nor has He hidden His face. The affliction that He suffers is necessary to complete the task!
Let’s do some Hebrew word studies!
First, the word despise or despised comes from the Hebrew word בָּזָה or bâzâh, with the following Biblical usages:
to despise, hold in contempt, disdain
(Qal) to despise, regard with contempt
(Niphal)
to be despised
to be despicable
to be vile, worthless
(Hiphil) to cause to despise
Second, the word abhorred comes from the Hebrew word שָׁקַץ or shâqats, with the following Biblical usages:
(Piel) to detest, make abominable, count filthy, make detestable
to detest
to make detestable
So these two words together to make the affliction of the afflicted the lowest, most vile, despicable, detestable thing. Who are the afflicted that supposedly deserve this contempt? Afflicted comes from the Hebrew word עָנִי or ʻânîy, with the following Biblical usages:
poor, afflicted, humble, wretched
poor, needy
poor and weak
poor, weak, afflicted, wretched
humble, lowly
Strong’s definitions also includes depressed in mind or circumstances. The wretched, poor and lowly are afflicted and despised and abhorred but not by God! God hears the afflicted when they cry out for help! God heard David and His Son cry out!
Enduring Word has excellent commentary on this passage.
For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted: David’s triumphant words – again, perfectly fulfilled in his greater son Jesus – reflect a profound spiritual wisdom and depth. The God who answers the Forsaken One allowed the affliction of the afflicted; yet He has not despised or abhorred it. God has used and would use that affliction to good and great purpose.
Some of God’s people automatically associate all affliction with the disfavor of God. It is true that sometimes affliction may come as punishment (for the unbeliever) or as discipline (for the believer). Yet sometimes affliction is something God does not despise, and uses to good effect in the lives of His people.
It is in this sense that the words of Isaiah 53:10 were fulfilled: Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. The affliction was not despised.
Nor has He hidden His face from Him: Certainly David (and the greater Son of David) felt that the Father hid His face (Why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me?…. You do not hear, Psalm 22:1-2). Yet now, after God’s answer has come (Psalm 22:21b), it is clear that He never did leave the afflicted, even in the midst of the affliction.
But when He cried to Him, He heard: The answer seemed an intolerably long time in coming, but it came. David and the Son of David could both say, “He heard My cry.”
My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay my vows: There are two aspects to a right response to such a wonderful deliverance. The first is public praise, and the second is keeping promises.
So when God hears us and delivers us from affliction, we have two responses to make: We will praise Him before others (in the great assembly) and we will keep our promises (vows, offerings) to Him.
I found another commentary that I like about this passage, from Bible Hub Pulpit Commentary:
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. The Father might seem by his passivity to disregard his Son's affliction; but it was not really so. Every pang was marked, every suffering sympathized with. And the reward received from the Father was proportionate (see Isaiah 53:12, "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death;" and Philippians 2:8-11, "He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a Name which is above every name: that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father"). Neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. There was no real turning away, no real forsaking. Every cry was heard, and the cries were answered at the fitting moment. Psalm 22:24
Jesus is the King of all Kings with a Name above all Names. God hears Him and answers His cry and His obedience even unto death. Then Jesus can truly say at that moment “It is finished”!
My next devotional examines Psalm 22:26 - The afflicted will be satisfied.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord: I thank you for hearing the cries of the afflicted. Please help me to always praise you and to fulfill my promises to you. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
The Blue Letter Bible was accessed on 3/12/2024 to review the lexicon for despised, abhorred and afflicted.
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.
Bible Hub commentary ©2022-2024.