November 3, 2013 – “The Sound of Silence”

PSALM 22:

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?  Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? ² O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.

³ But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. ⁴ Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. ⁵ They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

⁶ But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. ⁷ All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ⁸ “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him;
Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

⁹ But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. ¹⁰ I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God. ¹¹ Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help.

¹² Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. ¹³ They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion.

¹⁴ I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. ¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws;You have brought Me to the dust of death.

¹⁶ For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has
enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; ¹⁷ I can count all My bones.  They look and stare at Me. ¹⁸ They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.

¹⁹ But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! ²⁰ Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. ²¹ Save Me from the lion’s mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen!

You have answered Me.

²² I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. ²³ You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! ²⁴ For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.