Tuesday 30 October 2018

Background

The first part of Psalm 22 is one of defeat and utter desolation. Whether it is totally prophetic in nature or whether King David was having a terrible time in his own life, there comes a moment in which the psalmist wakes up to the truth of God’s covenantal love. He is not abandoned. The cry to God for rescue is heard – as it has been many times before – and God is to be praised. This praise is not going to be just the voice of the psalmist, the king and his courts, but “the poor” and the “ends of the earth”, “all the rich” (see New International Version) and even “future generations” will also praise God.

In the verses we have in our reading today, the psalmist is having that moment of realisation. His gratitude is not simply for that moment, but for the eternal history books. Salvation has come to the one who cries out to God.

As we look at this psalm, whatever its origins, we are able to see much of Jesus’ own struggle on the cross and the theme of mourning turned to dancing (Jeremiah 31:13). The delight of the realisation of God’s care is a message that must ring on and on to all people of all places and those “yet unborn” (v. 31). Our response to salvation is one which has arrived with us due to the faithfulness of those who carried on telling of God’s love and faithfulness. The psalm also brings the missional directive to continue celebrating God’s goodness. The missional tool of proclamation is perhaps dormant as we shy away from anything that could court criticism of being ‘too passionate’ or ‘set’ in our beliefs. The voice that proclaims the ‘righteousness’ of God is one that desires to show not the limitations of God’s salvation but that joy in being heard that is for all people in all time. Proclamation here is one that is speaking life and hope to hearts that have been crying out for help. The psalmist and we too can rejoice in the complete peace and exultation in God with that cry of relief and delight; “He has done it!” (v. 31).

To Ponder

• “We have a gospel to proclaim: good news for all throughout the earth”, Edward J. Burns, Singing the Faith 418
  Burns uses the command ‘tell’ over and over in every verse of this hymn. How might the hope of God be told of in your local context?
• Think about how your retelling of an event can bring it to life again for your listeners. We all have friends who tell good stories. How might telling the story of your faith help you to understand God better?
• Look out for instances of proclamation this week.