Psalms 22:22-31 - Homilies By C. Short

Consequences of deliverance.

In this last part the sufferer depicts the happy consequences of his deliverance, which he anticipates in faith, and, lifted up in spirit above the present, beholds, as if it were already present.

I. THE PSALMIST 'S DELIVERANCE SHALL BE A CAUSE OF REJOICING TO ALL ISRAEL . ( Psalms 22:22-26 .)

1 . He will inspire the whole congregation with the tidings. We cannot and ought not to keep to ourselves the great fact of our salvation. "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee," etc.

2 . The good tidings were that God had answered the cry of one who was in the very jaws of death. ( Psalms 22:24 .) And if he had heard one, the unavoidable conclusion was that he would hear all who cried to him. The psalmist's experience showed that God's mercy was universal; that was the suppressed premiss of this argument.

II. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD 'S REDEEMING GRACE SHALL EXTEND TO HEATHEN NATIONS . ( Psalms 22:27 , Psalms 22:28 .) This is to be rejoiced in.

1 . Because the he then have greater need of it than the Church. The Church (Israel) have already some knowledge of it; but the heathen are sunk in deeper sins and sorrows, and have no knowledge of God's redeeming grace.

2 . It is God ' s will that the heathen should know and receive his grace . He saves one man or one nation, in order that they should make his work known to other men and other nations. He is to be made known as "the Governor among the nations."

III. ALL CLASSES , WHETHER HAPPY OR MISERABLE , SHALL WELCOME THIS KNOWLEDGE . ( Psalms 22:29 .)

1 . The great spiritual feast will be enjoyed by those who live in outward abundance. Because here is food for which even the satisfied are still hungry, which their plenty cannot supply. All guests are poor here, and God is rich for all.

2 . It is a fountain of life to those ready to sink in death. They shall bow before and worship him.

IV. THE PRESENT AGE SENDS FORWARD THE GLAD TIDINGS TO POSTERITY . ( Psalms 22:30 , Psalms 22:31 .) See how God's work, beginning with a single individual, propagates itself by its effects upon the mind, spreading, first among those nearest to him; then, through them, to those remote, among the rich and poor, the living and the dying; and on through the ages with ever-increasing power and influence.—S.