Psalms 22

REFLECTIONS UPON PSALM XXII.—How fearful is the nature of sin, which drew such tremendous desertion and wrath upon God’s only begotten Son, when it was imputed to him! With the most holy resignation ought God’s hidings, and frowns to be endured, when they are sanctified by Jesus Christ’s bearing them as our forerunner; and should be attended with kind thoughts of God, trust in him, and fervent prayers for deliverance. What earnest supplications are occasioned by a deep sense of need! But it is happy, in great distress, to have our covenant relation to God, and our own and other’s experience of former deliverances, to encourage us to hope and wait for what we now need. What sinners before the Lord exceedingly were these dogs, these bulls, these wicked men, who with devils thus raged against the great God our Saviour! But oh what a debt of love and of praise the redeemed owe to their Lord, who so bare their sins, their griefs! And what ought they not cheerfully to suffer for his sake! What tidings—what supplies—what conquests—what continuance—what glories of grace, issue from the sufferings of our great ‘MANUEL’ Himself opens the triumphant song, and exhibits his experience for the comfort of his distressed brethren; and with joy declares his adherence to all his covenant engagements. Sweet is the entertainment of his flesh and blood—yea, of all the fulness of God, which he has prepared for the poor, the afflicted, and meek! Precious and lasting is their life who by faith feed upon him! He goes forth conquering the nations, high and low, to the obedience of faith. Let then his cause be oppressed as it may, in every age it will prove triumphant