[Here David experiences powerlessness in rejection by those around him and turns to God for support. This foreshadows what Jesus experienced 1000 years later in a much greater way: rejected by his own people, betrayed by two of His disciples, abandoned by them all, and turned away from by His Father–yet trusting Him.]

Psalm 22:7 “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:”

[This is precisely what happened to Jesus, when those watching him suffer insulted him and even those crucified with Him mocked Him. Matthew 27:39 says, “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads….”]

Psalm 22:8 “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

[Again, just what the Pharisees said to Jesus in Matthew 27:43, “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

They were insulting the Creator and Sustainer of all as He hung there on the cross. But you, Lord Jesus, saw the greater plan and chose not to defend or vindicate yourself to men by saving yourself; instead you stayed on the cross to save them.]

And now you call us to follow your example, to trust in you as you trusted in your Father, to suffer with strength the scorn of men, knowing that you will deliver us at the right time because you delight in us. But your delivery comes not in ways that the world would expect, or that we might want, but what you know to be best. We must persevere through the dark and cold days, like the days and years of my little wife’s depressions, knowing that the warmth of your salvation will come at the right time, as it did.

We praise you, Lord God, that your ways are higher than our ways. You truly see the big picture and will work things out in your perfect understanding, timing and wisdom.

Praise you, Lord Jesus, my great Shepherd, for the wonderful, profound, powerful and complete way you provide for us. Our role is to find our shelter, our help and our rest in you: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”(Ps. 91:1-2).

Help us, Lord, to be like David and like Jesus, embracing our weakness so we can rest in your greatness.