Christ in the Old Testament

Psalm 22:6

But I am a worm and not a man,
    scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 22

Beginning with verse four, the psalmist David alludes to the exodus of his ancestors. The first two verses begin with the cry of “My God” appealing to God to rescue Jesus from the cross. But God did not answer his cry. So the psalmist looks back to the time of the exodus when his ancestors cried out to God for their rescue and He saved them. They trusted in God and He delivered them.

It’s as if the psalmist is begging God to remember how He delivered His people in the past and to remind God that He is able to do it. He is their deliverer. He just needs to remember! However, no rescue is coming. Relegated to the cross, Jesus turns his thoughts inward and observes his situation.

He begins verse six with “But I am a worm and not a man.” At that time, being like a worm would convey a sense of utter worthlessness and vulnerability. I find it interesting that the Hebrew word for “worm” is tôlēʽâ which can also be translated as “scarlet yarn.” It’s the exact same Hebrew word used each time that scarlet yarn was called for in the curtains of the Tabernacle. The exact same word. Because the Tabernacle points to Jesus.

Then we see the insults and the mocking of Jesus in verses 7 and 8. These verses are repeated almost verbatim in the crucifixion account of Matthew:

“Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matt 27:39-43).

The psalmist is quoting the chief priests and teachers of the law over 1000 years before it happened. Psalm 22;6-8 is simply an amazing section of Scripture! I could read it over and over. It’s such a contrast where the actual words of those verses are recording the evil actions of the Israelite priests who are supposed to be God’s representative to His people. We see them crucifying Jesus and then mocking him while he dies.

But then to know that those very same verses look back to the exodus and to the construction of the Tabernacle which are both pointing ahead to Jesus. Then to read the actual words of the mockers being recorded over 1000 years before they were said is humbling to me. Words can’t really convey the awesomeness of God. What an awesome God we serve!

Today’s Prayer: Lord I am humbled by your greatness. I praise your holy name!