Spiritual Abandonment

My God, my God, why have you deserted me?

“Then about that time Jesus shouted, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” 

which means, “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?”

 ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:46‬ ‭CEV‬‬

There have been a few times in my life when I have witnessed the time when a person was informed of the death of a loved one. The heart rending cry that shocks the day lights out of those standing around is quite upsetting. Psalm 22 was a very special Psalm of David as it was also used by Jesus as a lament as He hung on the cross. It may have been written while David was being pursued by Saul or one of the enemies of the Nation of Israel? Today it is considered by many as a prophetic messianic masterpiece by David. The Psalm sets the mood of Jesus as He hung on the cross. We walk through a sense being wrapped up in darkness as the psalmist goes through a path of intense torment and test. Does God allow us to suffer even when we trust in Him? Christ’s cry from the cross is also a reminder to us, that even when we go through trials and dilemmas it is alright to call out to God. It is acceptable to question God for why we are in that particular predicament or sunk so low. 

 

The astounding parallel to David’s Psalm and Jesus’ trials in the gospels is certainly a prophetic revelation of God’s truth being fulfilled. David says in verse 7 of the Psalm 22 that all who look at him mock him. The soldiers stripped off Jesus’ clothes and put a scarlet robe on Him (Mathew 27:27-31). Then they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head and mocked him, screaming, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they beat Him and spat on Him. Further in Mathew 27:39 it says all those who passed by Jesus on the cross hurled insults at him and shook their heads in mockery.

David says in verse 8 of Psalm 22 that His persecutors mocked Him saying, “He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him.” This is precisely what some of the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.”

David says in verse 16 of Psalm 22, “The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” It was a helplessness that David senses that prophetically Jesus felt as He was crucified on the cross (Mathew 27:35). David says in verse 18 of Psalm 22, “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” This is the scripture that Mathew quoted as he wrote, “They parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.(Mathew 27:35)”

There are many who would like to believe that when Jesus bore the sins of the world, His relationship with God that was formed way before the beginning of creation was severed or plunged into spiritual darkness. It was a point of crisis where Jesus was groping in darkness and was left with a sense of spiritual abandonment. It was not just spiritual darkness but also at noon to three o’ clock the whole land was plunged into darkness. It was then that Jesus screamed, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? If this is the way God willed Christ to die for us, God truly must have loved us greatly to allow this to happen to Christ. So also, Christ’s love for us is also greatly expressed by what he suffered on the cross for all of us.

Did Christ really think that God would abandon him (John 16:32)? Christ had warned his disciples of the impending betrayal and death. (Luke 18:31; cf. John 12:27). A change in the mood is seen from verse 22 onwards, where the Psalmist is comforted that God has heard his prayer. A prayer of thanks and praise for the experience of the presence of God. Rather than wallow in self pity He finds comfort in God’s presence that has never failed him in his time of need. A strong relationship on God is built not by being lost in the present situation but trusting in God’s past provision and hope in his abounding mercy and grace. This is a Psalm that calls us to live true to our calling with God. Whatever may be the trials we face God is asking us to endure the suffering and be strong in times of adversity. It is raising ones line of vision from present trial to the peace we have with God. It is finding comfort in the midst of tribulation.