Psalm 22
July 6, 2025 Oh God, our God, You are the King; You are enthroned in Heaven and You rule over the nations, and yet You listen when we bring to You our cries and our complaints.
When we look at the world, we can echo the cries of David: Why are you so far? Why do you let the wicked triumph? Why do You allow Your people to be scorned and Your Word to be mocked? Why do we so often encounter trouble, experience pain and sickness, navigate broken relationships, and grow weary? Why do we not witness Your saving power more often?
And yet, we cannot read this psalm without thinking of Your Son, who cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” You did not answer Him at that moment, either. He was scorned, despised, and mocked. His heart was pierced and His body was broken; enemies gloated and cast lots for His clothing. He was left to die. And yet—You did hear. We still tell the story of Your salvation to the next generation, that You have done it. It is in His suffering and death that we have hope and life.
Father, in whatever difficulties and discouragements we face this week, remind us that You hear our cries. You see our pain. You are near the afflicted. And You do not waste our tears.
We are reminded to pray for those whose sufferings outweigh our own: for those in Texas who have lost loved ones to flooding or whose girls are still missing from their week at camp, would You give supernatural comfort to the families and any who might still be awaiting rescue, and guide rescuers to find them? For Your people in nations where worshipping together as we do today would risk their lives. When they face persecution or witness friends and family imprisoned or killed, would You strengthen their faith and allow the sufferings of Your Son to give them hope? For those without money for basic necessities, watching their children starve or face illnesses without hope of medicine, would You be their Provider, multiplying their few loaves and fishes just as Your Son did? For the refugees and immigrants facing deportation, having no place to call home in this world, would You be to them a Rock of Refuge, a place to which they can always go? For those in the midst of war, sometimes forcibly brought into it, would You watch over them and bring peace?
And this weekend as we celebrate our own nation’s independence, we are simultaneously thankful for its commitment to liberty and justice for all—and the blessings we experience because of it—and grieved for the ways we continue to fall short of that ideal, for the people in our midst who are not experiencing freedom or justice. Please show us what things You call us simply to trust You with and where we need to act. Give wisdom from Your Spirit to our national, state, and local leaders, that they might work together for the common good–not neglecting the fatherless, the widow, or the foreigner–so that we might live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness as we await Your return. We are so glad You are enthroned over all.
We ask this in the name of Your Son, who suffered for us and rose triumphantly, and in whose name we put our hope, and all God’s people said, Amen.