Notes on Psalm 22 & lament vs. complaint

My Notes from Psalm 22

This psalm is a cry of anguish as well as a song of praise. It is a lament.

This Psalm begins with a cry to God from one (King David) who feels forsaken. He cries and it seems God does not answer. There is no rest.

Still, in the following verses, the psalmist proclaims God’s holiness. How God’s people cried to Him and they were safe. How they trusted God and were not disappointed.

This psalmist calls himself a worm, not a person. He is sneered at by others. The “others” say: “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!” (Psalm 22:8)

The psalmist keeps steady in his faith and calls God “He who brought me forth from the womb…” A God who has known him since before he took his first breath. A God who chose him from the beginning.

He needs God, his only hope. David is in rough shape—emotionally and physically sick.

Some things the psalmist says are foreshadows of Jesus on earth. Verse 1, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” and verse 18, “…they cast lots for my clothing.”

Verses 19–21, another cry to the Lord for help.

Verses 22–24, a proclamation of praise. And the acknowledged truth that true praise comes from those who fear God. Those who seek Him.

Psalm 22:27
“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.”

Everything—all kingdoms—belong to the Lord. He rules over all the nations. One day, every knee will bow before the Lord!

Isaiah 45:23
“I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”

Romans 14:11
“Yes, it is written in the Scriptures: ‘Everyone will bow before me; everyone will say that I am God. As surely as I live, these things will happen, says the Lord.’”

King David had a life of drama with seasons of great danger and deprivation. But the foreshadowing in this psalm points to Jesus who had an even more agonizing life.

(I love this truth) Jesus—the Word of God—was meditating on scripture (this very psalm) when He was dying on the cross. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

But.

Psalm 22:3 has that word, “but,” and reveals what is true before the preceding statement or question. “But you are holy…”

Have you ever noticed that about the word “but”? It comes after something but is really the primary thing. For example, “I love you but you make me angry.” Or, “I trust You, God, but I am tired of waiting.” The words after the “but” are usually the primary truth. Anger is overshadowing love. Tired of waiting is overshadowing trust.

In the case of Psalm 22, the truth that God is holy, trustworthy, and will deliver His own overshadows “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Believing God is trustworthy in front of life’s tumultuous situations is the doorway that brings us from anguish to answers. Sorrow to salvation.

This is where God’s character and repeated, flawless actions speak louder than worldly circumstances. He is holy. He is trustworthy. He will deliver.

It is a matter of when and how.

But (there’s that word again) we must not get hung up on the when and how. We can move from crying out to God into trusting in Him. Believing His promises. Believing He is good and will come through.

He came through for David.

He came through for Jesus.

And by coming through for Jesus, He has already come through for us. We can see our future answers by looking at our secured past: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He conquered sin and death so we don’t have to. This temporary world has already moved aside for His eternal kingdom of everything that is good and holy and just.

That right there is the greatest answer to all life’s problems and it. is. already. finished.

Already
Finished

So here, in the world, as we cry out to God and believe He is listening and working, we wait and walk by faith. And it is okay to lament, as David did. As Jesus did. It is good to lament. My God, where are You in this present darkness?

Lament vs. Complaint

Do you understand lamenting is not complaining? I used to recite the “do everything without complaining” verse to myself repeatedly. While fostering contentment and not complaining is a holy goal, I realized at some point there was an alternative to complaining—a holy alternative. It is the lament.

Lament: “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?” (Psalm 13)
Complaint: “How long is this going to take? I’ve waited long enough; it’s unfair that I’m still dealing with this.”

Lament: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22; Matthew 27)
Complaint: “This shouldn’t be happening to me. I did everything right, and now I’m left alone to clean up the mess.”

Lament: “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” (Matthew 26)
Complaint: “I can’t handle this anymore. Everything is overwhelming, and no one understands how hard this is for me.”

The basic difference between a lament and a complaint is a lament stems from brokenness and a complaint stems from bitterness or entitlement. A lament seeks reconciliation and a complaint seeks circumstantial change for personal comfort.

A lament turns pain toward God. A complaint turns pain inward (victim) or outward (blame), oftentimes both. A lament addresses God directly. A complaint places self as a victim of God and/or others and/or circumstances.

The absence of lament—and the pressure to avoid honest expression of pain—is toxic positivity. Keeping an upbeat attitude in the midst of problems is not only phony, it is harmful. It denies reality. It suppresses emotions. It fosters emotional and physical sickness. This “mask” or “church face” is not real.

So lament (faith-filled grief).

Psalm 62:8
“Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us.”

And foster godliness with contentment over complaining (self-centered grievances).

Philippians 2:14–15
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

Join in all those who fear God and acknowledge His goodness with true praise!