But be not Thou far from Me, O Lord: O My Strength. Haste Thee to help Me. Deliver My soul from the sword … the dog … the lion’s mouth … the unicorn. Psalm 22:19-21 KJV
But You, O LORD, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance. Deliver my soul from the sword…the dog…the lion’s mouth…the wild oxen. Psalm 22:19-21 NASB
His Appeal – Be not Thou …
In His hour of deepest suffering and loneliness, the Lord Jesus turned to His God. He did not appeal for pity from man or deliverance from men. His heart was ever heavenward. The dark hour of Calvary served to reveal perfect dependence which had marked Him from the womb.
But one of the great mysteries which bows our hearts in worship is words coming from Him, the Omnipotent One, while on the tree. He calls God “My strength.” The One Who possesses all power allowed Himself to endure weakness, and in that hour owned that God was His strength! Explanations fail; dissecting of statements is all in vain. He owned God as His strength yet possessed inherently all power and strength within Himself.
His Adversaries
Once again, we are reminded of the adversaries crowding around the cross and oppressing Him. “Deliver My soul from the sword” could well be a reference to death. The Roman authorities “bore the sword” with the intent of putting Him to death. But He laid down His life, a life which no one could take from Him. The “paw of the dog” would be the Gentiles, the soldiers with their heartless and cruel treatment of Him. In contrast, He is the “darling” or the beloved one. He, in all His sensitivity and tenderness, given over to the power of the dog to ravage.
The lion was also there at Calvary. In Luke 22:53 He addressed the mob which came to take Him and told them that He recognized this was their “hour and the power of darkness.” At Calvary, the hosts of hell were arrayed against the Son of God as He accomplished His great victory, a victory which assured their ultimate defeat.
The “horns of the unicorn” or wild ox could represent the leaders of the nation who plotted and schemed against Him. All His adversaries had their opportunity to tempt Him to compromise His fidelity and devotion. All failed.
His Assurance – Thou hast …
His confidence is seen in His expression found in the lips of the Psalmist, “Thou hast heard Me.” For the joy that was His prospect, He endured the cross with the full expectation of resurrection. He had so prophesied to His own on at least three occasions. He assured His foes that this was the ultimate sign authenticating His ministry. He is the ultimate example of faith brought before us in Hebrews 12. And if faith is the principle upon which we please God (Heb 11:6), then His faith expressed in His death brought infinite delight to the heart of God.
Consider:
Look at the use of “but” in Psalm 22 (vv 3, 6, 9, 19)