Psalms 22

In some Psalmes there are passages that properly and literaly belong to David; and to Christ only, as David was a Type of him. But in this Psalme, are some Passages, as ver. 16, 17, 18. (besides many other which are applied to Christ in the New Testament, as ver. 1, 7, 8, 22, 27.) which literaly and properly belong to Christ, and are appliable to him only, or to him more then to David. Then here is no place left for that question of the Eunuch, Acts VIII. 34. The allegations out of this Psalme, Matth. XXVII. 46, 35, 43. Heb. II. 12. and the body of the Psalme it self do shew, that little of it can be applied to David, as a Type, most of it is proper and peculiar to Christ alone, as I formerly said, 1 Pet. I. 11, 12.

Psalms 22:1

my God] Jesus on the Crosse little before his death, about the ninth hour, cryed out these words with a loud voice, Matth. XXVII. 46. Heb. V. 7. upon the weight of Gods wrath, under the burden of our sinnes; The Deity by a special providence and dispensation withdrawing and suspending its influence from the Humanity for this time; God withdrawing all sense of his favour from him. Not that the hypostatical union of both natures was then or ever severed or dissolved. But yet he suffered chiefly in his soul, all the paines, pangs and agonies of a justly angry and punishing God, even more then can either be expressed or imagined, even so farre above the measure of ordinary sufferings, as himself was above ordinary men; without any influence, or joy, or comfort streaming from the Vision of God upon his mind and wil for that time.

So that he suffered as in body, so in soul, in his whole man; as in his sensual part, so in his intellectual also, in his whole soul, and body, and in all the parts, powers, and faculties of them. And the greatest sufferings, as was said, that could be sustained in this life, Lam. I. 12. yet without any derogation to the integrity, purity, innocencie, dignity of the person of Christ our Surety and Saviour. These words then are not a complaint out of impatience, ignorance, disobedience, or diffidence. They are the words of sense, not of infidelity. See ver. 24.

Luke XXIII. 46. He strongly calls him his God, even in that instant of these suffering; so expressing his firme faith in him. But they are a Protestation of the bitternesse of his Passion, so stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted, and so farre prevailing on him, in whom the spirit of fortitude had his residence.

forsaken me] This sense of dereliction and carencie of Divine favour for the time, as it was the Fathers pleasure to have it so, so the Sonnes office called him unto it; and he did not contract it by any fault of his, but did voluntarily undertake it for our sinnes, and the expiation of them: as he did the death it self. So that in this then there could not be any defect or defanlt of faith, and hope requisite in him, And likewise that Prayer and Speech, Matth. XXVI. 39. bewrayes the sense of the flesh; but joyned with the obedience of the Spirit in him: A double Will in him, against Monothelites: but joyned both in one holy obedience and subjection. All which shew the nature of sinne, the infinite wrath of God against it; the infinite Love of the Father, and the Sonne, towards the children of men; and the verity of Christs Humane Nature, both in body and soul.

roaring] Like that of Lions Psal. XXXII. 3. and XXXVIII. 8. Matth. XXVI. 38. Marke XIV. 33. Luke XXII. 44. so that he had need of an Angel for his Comforter. Yet he so wrestles and prevailes, that no signe of halting was left remaining after; no signe or voice of despair; as some are shamelesly wronged to charge upon him. All the agonies of Christs soul ceased with his death.

Psalms 22:2

but thou hearest not] We read that God ever heard him, ver. 24. John XI. 42. Heb. V. 7. But here this Prayer was only conditional; a signification of a natural desire; not an absolute, and plenary Prayer.

Psalms 22:3

inhabit the praises of Israel] Whose praise thou art, Deut. X. 21. And they praise thee, in thy House and Sanctuary. Thou art still praised by them for thy benefits to them, and acknowledged their holy one.

Psalms 22:4

Our fathers] And shall I be so forsaken, not heard, nor holpen, nor delivered? Thus he aggravates his complaint, rouzeth up his faith, bowes and moves God to mercie.

Psalms 22:5

Cried] Crying or clamor, and Prayer, are oft conjoyned, Psal III. 4. and XVIII. 7. Jer. VII. 16. Jonas III. 8. Micah III. 4.

Psalms 22:6

a worme] So vile and contemptible in the eyes of men, Esay LIII. 2, 3. as Job XXV. 6. Esay XLI. 14. Not only made lower then the Angels, Psal. VIII. 5. Heb. II. 7. but disesteemed more then Barrabas, or the two theives.

Psalms 22:7

All they that see me] This verse, and the next, we see fulfilled in the History of Christs Passion, Matth. XXVII. 39,—44. Luke XXIII. 35. Not that Christ herein murmurs against God; but declares and deplores his own misery, whereunto for mans sake, and his redemption, he willingly subjects himself.

Laugh me to scorne] Matth. XXVII. 39.

Psalms 22:8

He trusted] Matt. XXVII. 43.

Psalms 22:9

But thou art] This verse, and the next, shew his Hope in God. The like see in David, Psal. LXXI. 5, 6, 7.

out of the womb] By a natural, not miraculous way; as David was, Psal. LXXI. 5. by the opening of the womb, without any losse or laesion of Blessed Maries Virginity; not by a miraculous penetration of dimensions and substances, to keep the womb still closed and shut.

Breasts] So Job XXXI. 18. Psal. LXXI. 6. 2 Tim. III. 15. Esay XLVI. 3. and XLIX. 1. Luke I. 15, 41.

Psalms 22:10

I was cast] By him saved from Herods intended murder, Mat. II.

Psalms 22:11

Be not farre from me] Therefore he was not utterly forsaken, ver. 1. So Psal. X. 1. and XXXVIII. 22, 23. So againe, Esay XLVIII. 9.

for trouble is near] Death it self.

none to help] Esay LXIII. 3, 5. His Disciples fled; Peter forswears him: none but God could help him.

Psalms 22:12

Many Bulls] So afterwards Lions, ver. 13. Dogs, ver. 16, 20. Such were his enemies to him; the Devil and his instruments; the Priests, and Rulers of the Jewes, in our Saviours dayes.

Bashan] See the Annotations on Micah VII. 14.

Psalms 22:13

roaring Lion] Even they forced Pilate, notwithstanding all his pleadings for Jesus, to condemne him. See Matth. XXVII. 17.—26. John XIX. 1,—13.

Psalms 22:14

like water] Such is his state. As 2 Sam. XIV. 14. His bones, heart, bowels, melted, burnt, as it were, with the heat of Gods wrath.

Psalms 22:16

the Assembly] In their Councils, Marke XIV. 55. and XV. 1. John XI. 47.

They pierced] Our Hebrew Bibles have 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as a Lion. Which yet by anomalie in Grammer may signifie 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they pierced. And such anomalies are found sometimes in the Hebrew text, as Ezra X. 16. 44. Psal. X. 15. And 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is confessed to be found in some ancient Copies, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; So that the text here may be said to admit divers readings.

Yet the Spirit of God in the New Testament doth constantly render it, they pierced. The ancient Jewes maintaine this reading; And some of the moderne. The other reading as a Lion, is but a various reading; and though in the text, yet in good sense it seemes not so well to stand; and therefore this foderunt, set in the margin, is to be read. And some Copies have foderunt in the text; yea, and the other reading as was said by anomalie in Grammar, not unusual in Scripture, will signifie foderunt also. And thus they dealt with our Saviour Jesus Christ, John XX. 25. Luke XXIV. 40.

Zech. XII. 10. compared with John XIX. 37.

Psalms 22:17

stare upon me] As Psal. XXXV. 21. and LIV. 9. They fed their eyes with my miserable spectacle; with all pleasure, and without any pitying of me.

Psalms 22:18

parted my garments] John XIX. 23, 24. The four souldiers that had the chardge of the execution, did so. But other souldiers, with their Captaine or Centurion, were there present.

lots] Of Lots, see the Annotations on Jonah I. 7. Lots are for division; or consultation, and Divination.

Psalms 22:20

my darling] Psal. XXXV. 17. or my onely one, which is without an helper, ver. 11.

Psalms 22:21

Unicorns] See the Observations on Num. XXIII.

Psalms 22:22

I will declare] Recount, publish, and praise; thy bounty, and goodnesse, all thy Divine attributes, perfections, and actions.

unto my brethren] Heb. II. 10, 11, 12. brethren in that one and common sanctification.

Psalms 22:23

ye that fear the Lord] Christs speech and exhortation to his Church, to praise, and worship God, Psal. CXXXV. 1. &c.

Psalms 22:24

hath not despised] Christ, in his low and base estate; though men did, Esay LIII. 3.

He heard] Heb. V. 7.

Psalms 22:25

my praise] As Christ exhorted others; so himself will not be behinde, but an example to them, to praise his Father.

vowes] See the Annotations on Jonah I. 16.

Psalms 22:26

The meek] Spiritual feeding, and blessings are here mainly intended; by allusion likely to the feastings at Peace-offerings; as at that 2 Sam. VI. 18, 19. See Esay LV. 1, 2. Prov. IX. 5, 6.

Psalms 22:27

All the ends] The large bounds of the Church of Christ, Psal. II. 8. Gen. XVII. 18. and XLVIII. 10. Esay XLIX. 22. Acts XIII. 47. and XIV. 14.

Worship] 1 Sam. I. 3 19, 28. John IV. 20,—24.

Psalms 22:28

For the Kingdome] His Kingdome of Grace, revealed to the Gentiles, whereby he reigneth in their hearts, Esay II. 4.

Psalms 22:29

All they] All sorts and conditions of men shall worship before him, James I. 9. the rich and great ones, Psal. XLV. 12. Esay XLIX. 23. and the poor hungry ones ready to die and perish, Matth. XI. 5.

Psalms 22:30

A seed] Christs Church shall be Catholike, as for places, and persons; so here for time and duration, Esay LIII. 10. Those worshippers in the former verse, shall have a seed and succession to continue from generation to generation, Psal. LXXXVII. 5, 6. Acts XV. 16.

Psalms 22:31

They shall come] They that are first in Christ, begotten by the immortal seed of his Word.

shall declare his righteousnesse] In performing his promises, in the exhibition of the Messias, and the benefits of redemption and salvation by him, Psal. XL. 10. and LXXI. 15.

that he hath done this] Like that Psal. XXXVII. 5.