Psalm 22:22-31

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Psalm 22
• Sermon
• Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Resurrection Glory of the Crucified King

Scripture: Psalm 22:22-31

I. The Spread of Joy — Psalm 22:22-26

A. The abrupt shift from darkness to light mirrors the abruptness of resurrection itself

1. Jeremiah 31:13 — God turns mourning into joy, not gradually but suddenly
2. Like the original creation (ex nihilo), resurrection joy is spoken into darkness without a transition
3. The disciples' fear gives way instantly to joy on Resurrection Sunday — an ex nihilo joy, a new creation in Christ

B. The setting of Psalm 22:25 — praise fulfilled in the great congregation

1. The law of Moses (Leviticus and Deuteronomy) prescribed that answered prayer be celebrated with a feast of thanksgiving, open to household, family, and the afflicted
2. Psalm 22:26 — "The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied"
3. Deuteronomy 12:17-19 — the Levites (priests) were especially to be invited to this feast

C. 1 Peter 2:5 — believers are called a holy priesthood, drawing on this Old Testament feast language; we are those invited to the King's thanksgiving feast

D. Hebrews 2:10-13 — the New Testament's direct quotation of Psalm 22:22

1. Christ is not ashamed to call believers his brothers
2. The congregation in which Christ now praises the Father is the heavenly congregation, where he is seated at the right hand of God
3. Psalm 22:26 — "Their hearts shall rejoice in you forever" — a note of eternality unique among the Levitical vow-feasts, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's eternal heavenly priesthood
4. Christ intercedes at the right hand of the Father for all those he died for, lifting them into the presence of God

II. The Boundless Kingdom — Psalm 22:27-31

A. The universal scope of the risen King's reign

1. Psalm 22:27 — "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; all the families of the nations shall worship before you"
2. Matthew 28:18-19 — the Great Commission flows directly from the resurrection; all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Christ
3. The outpouring of the Spirit on Jews (Acts 2), Samaritans (Acts 8), and all nations (Acts 10) demonstrates Christ's reign over all nations

B. Psalm 22:29 — even the self-sufficient will lay aside their arrogance to join the humble at the feast (Derek Kidner)

1. Philippians 3:7-8 — Paul is the paradigm of Psalm 22:29: self-sufficiency giving way to God's sufficient grace
2. Christ came for sinners — the downtrodden who feel their need — but even the proud, like the Pharisee-turned-apostle Paul, come to an end of themselves and join the feast of the afflicted
3. History bears this out: in the first four centuries, many Roman nobles and officials came to Christ, fulfilling Psalm 22:29

C. Psalm 22:30-31 — the Kingdom extends to unborn generations

1. "It shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn — that he has done it"
2. Kidner: the psalm that began with the cry of dereliction ends with "he has done it" — not far removed from Christ's cry, "It is finished"
3. Exodus 34:6-7 — the name of Yahweh: steadfast love to the thousandth generation, wrath only to the third and fourth
4. The death and resurrection of Christ bring to full flower the name of Yahweh — as the afflicted, the proud, every tribe, nation, and tongue feast at the table of the risen Lord, his grace is shown to be far greater than his wrath