THE MESSIAH SUFFERS EXTREME REJECTION (CRUEL CRUCIFIXION) BUT ANTICIPATES THAT GOD’S DELIVERANCE WILL SPARK EVER EXPANDING CIRCLES OF PRAISE AND TESTIMONY
INTRODUCTION:
AGONIZING QUESTION:
“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)
The initial cry from the Cross
Wever: “only one answer = Jesus must have been bearing the sins of the world on the cross; He knew that the separating agent was sin; He wasn’t asking for information; he was dying as our representative substitute — the wrath of God was borne by Him in our stead; we don’t know the exceeding awfulness of sin”
I. (:1-5) THE PARADOX OF BEING FORSAKEN BY GOD THE FATHER
A. (:1b) Paradox of Suffering Instead of Deliverance
“Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.”
B. (:2) Paradox of God’s Silence Instead of Answered Prayer
“O my God, I cry by day, but Thou dost not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.”
C. (:3) Anchor Amidst Confusion = High View of God
1. High View of God’s Character
“Yet Thou art holy”
2. High View of God’s Position
“O Thou who art enthroned upon the praise of Israel”
Picture God seated on a throne that is supported only by the praises of His people
D. (:4-5) Paradox of God’s Deliverance in the Experience of the Jewish Fathers
Contrast between:
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the experience of Messiah = personally forsaken by God the Father
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the experience of the Jewish fathers = cried for help and were delivered
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Common Thread: Faith in God
It seems that the God who answers the prayers of sinful man is not answering the prayer of the sinless Messiah
Contrast between:
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being forsaken
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never being disappointed
(Theme: “Be not far off” — repeated in vs. 11 and vs. 19)
II. (:6-8) THE PUBLIC HUMILIATION AT THE HANDS OF ARROGANT MOCKERS
A. (:6-7) Treated with Contempt
1. Like a Worm Instead of a Man
“But I am a worm, and not a man”
The King of kings is not even given the respect due any man
2. “A reproach of men”
3. “Despised by the people”
B. (:8) Mocked for His Faith
1. Mocked by Body Language
a. “sneer at me”
b. “separate with the lip”
c. “wag the head”
2. Mocked by Verbal Taunts
“saying, ‘Commit yourself to the Lord; let Hm deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.’”
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the opposite of fearing the Lord
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mocking his commitment to the Lord
III. (:9-10) THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP HAS DEEP ROOTS
A. Rooted in Origination of Existence
“Yet Thou art He who didst bring me forth from the womb”
B. Rooted in Initiation of Faith
“Thou didst make me trust when upon my mother’s breasts”
C. Rooted in Continuation of Lifelong Personal Relationship
“Upon Thee I was cast from birth;
Thou hast been my God from my mother’s womb.”
from day 1 that relationship has been present and the Providence of God has directed all his paths
IV. (:11-18) THE PICTURE OF CRUCIFIXION IS PRECISE AND VERY DETAILED
Amazing picture of Crucifixion written 1000 years before such a form of execution was practiced on a regular basis
A. (:11) Refrain: Stick Close; I Need Your Help
“Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.”
B. (:12-13) Animal Attacks
1. Giant Bulls = Strength
“Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.”
2. Roaring Lions = Viciousness
“They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.”
C. (:14-15) Gradual Loss of Strength and Life
1. Dehydration
“I am poured out like water”
2. Dislocation
“And all my bones are out of joint”
3. Broken and Completely Spent (image of broken piece of pottery)
a. Emotionally
“My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.”
b. Physically
“My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws.”
4. Reduced to the Dust of Death
“And Thou dost lay me in the dust of death”
realizes that it is ultimately God’s doing; Acts 2:23; 1 Cor. 5:21;
It wasn’t the cross that killed Christ; Why was the Lord already dead when they broke the legs of the other two?
A man could live for 30 hours on the cross; they eventually would have their lungs collapse; Christ died voluntarily:
“into your hands, God, I commend my spirit “
D. (:16-18) Final Humiliation and Indignities
1. Bloodthirsty Beasts
“For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me”
2. Prophetic Piercing
“They pierced my hands and my feet.” (John 19:34-37)
3. Skeleton Spectacle
“I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me”
4. Trophy Takers
“They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.”
V. (:19-21) THE PLEA FOR HELP IS URGENT
A. (:19) Refrain: Stick Close; I Need Your Help
“But Thou, O Lord, be not far off;
O Thou my help, hasten to my assistance.”
B. (:20-21) Save Me From My Executioners – Pictured as Ravenous Beasts
“Deliver my soul from the sword”
1. From the Dogs
“My only life from the power of the dog”
2. From the Lions
“Save me from the lion’s mouth”
3. From the Wild Oxen
“And from the horns of the wild oxen Thou dost answer me”
VI. (:22-31) THE PRAISE AND TESTIMONY FLOW OUT IN EVER EXPANDING CIRCLES
A. (:22-24) Public Praise
1. (:22) Demonstrated by Personal Example in the Assembly
“I will tell of Thy name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise Thee.”
2. (:23) Exhorted by Family Relationship and the Fear of God Throughout the Nation
“You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.”
3. (:24) Deserved for His Compassionate Response
“For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Neither has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.”
B. (:25-26) Widespread Sacrifice and Feasting
1. Sacrifice in the Great assembly
“From Thee comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.”
2. Feasting Throughout the Land
“The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.”
3. Joyous Anthem
“Let your heart live forever!”
C. (:27-31) Global and Perpetual Worship
1. Global Scope of Such Worship
“all the ends of the earth”
“all the families of the nations”
“all the prosperous of the earth”
“all those who go down to the dust”
2. Perpetual Timeframe for Such Worship
“posterity” = “the coming generation” = “a people who will be born”
3. Necessary Elements of Such Worship
“remember and turn to the Lord”
“worship before Thee”
“eat and worship”
“bow before Him”
“serve Him”
“declare His righteousness”
4. Worthy Basis for Such Worship
“For the kingdom is the Lord’s,
And He rules over the nations.”
CONCLUSION: THE FINAL SHOUT OF VICTORY:
“He has performed it ” — “It is finished!” (John 19:30)