Psalm 22 is called a Psalm of David, but I see it as totally Messianic! In fact, according to the Bible Exposition Commentary, these next three Psalms form a "trilogy on Christ the Shepherd"! In Psalm 22, this Good Shepherd dies for the sheep. In Psalm 23 he lives for the sheep and cares for them. Then, in Psalm 24, He returns as the Chief Shepherd to reward His sheep! How awesome! Psalm 22:1:
MY GOD, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
This is what Jesus said from the cross! The rest of the Psalm contains the very description of a crucifixion! Thank You, Jesus, for all You've done! AMEN!
One of my favorite examples of Jesus putting the religious leaders in their place happens in this chapter of Matthew! it begins with this in verse 15:
15Then the Pharisees went and consulted and plotted together how they might entangle Jesus in His talk.
They couldn't rejoice and be happy when the people were set free from every bondage by the Anointing Who was in the midst of them! Instead, they tried to trick Him, AND FAILED!!! I LOVE it! Verses 16-21:
16And they sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that You are sincere and what You profess to be and that You teach the way of God truthfully, regardless of consequences and being afraid of no man; for You are impartial and do not regard either the person or the position of anyone. 17Tell us then what You think about this: Is it lawful to pay tribute [levied on individuals and to be paid yearly] to Caesar or not? 18But Jesus, aware of their malicious plot, asked, Why do you put Me to the test and try to entrap Me, you pretenders (hypocrites)? 19Show me the money used for the tribute. And they brought Him a denarius. 20And Jesus said to them, Whose likeness and title are these? 21They said, Caesar's. Then He said to them, Pay therefore to Caesar the things that are due to Caesar, and pay to God the things that are due to God.
What was the result of that? Look at verse 22:
22When they heard it they were amazed and marveled; and they left Him and departed.
It would be great if they went their way, thinking about all the things they had seen and heard of Jesus, and came back changed! Did they? Not so much that we are made aware of! But, with God ALL THINGS are possible! AMEN!
In 1 Kings 19 we see the mighty man of God, Elijah, who had just slain the 450 prophets of baal in chapter 18, running from a woman! Jezebel sends him a message and he falls apart! Verse 1-4:
1AHAB TOLD Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had slain all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow. 3Then he was afraid and arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba of Judah [over eighty miles, and out of Jezebel's realm] and left his servant there. 4But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a lone broom or juniper tree and asked that he might die. He said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.
WOW! And you thought God might give up on YOU?! Never!!! We DO see that Elijah is instructed to anoint his successor. The Anointing is there, but Elisha will still have to learn and grow and become the prophet that God has called him to be! We must each continue to grow in the things of God, also! That will make us more effective ministers of Life! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
