How can understanding Psalm 22:17 deepen our appreciation for Christ's sacrifice? Placing Psalm 22:17 in Context • Psalm 22 opens with “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (v.1), words Jesus quoted from the cross (Matthew 27:46). • The psalm moves from anguish to victory, describing details fulfilled with chilling precision in Christ’s crucifixion—centuries before crucifixion was even practiced in Israel. • Verse 17 reads, “I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me.” What Does “I Can Count All My Bones” Mean? • Exposure: Stripped of His garments (John 19:23–24), Jesus’ body was laid bare, just as the psalm depicts onlookers staring. • Intact bones: Roman victims were often club-broken to hasten death, yet Jesus’ bones remained unbroken: “For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of His bones will be broken.’” (John 19:36, quoting Psalm 34:20). • Dislocation: Extended arms and nailed feet stretched ligaments to the limit, making every bone distinct and agonizingly felt. How the Verse Highlights the Depth of Jesus’ Suffering • Physical agony—visible, specific, measurable; not a vague or symbolic pain. • Public humiliation—“they stare and gloat,” echoing Luke 23:35: “The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered.” • Prophetic precision—demonstrates that the cross was the planned centerpiece of redemption, not a tragic accident. Seeing Christ’s Love Magnified • Voluntary endurance: John 10:18—“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.” • Complete identification with human frailty: Hebrews 2:17—He became “like His brothers in every way” to be our merciful High Priest. • Substitutionary sacrifice: 1 Peter 2:24—“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree,” a body whose very bones testified to the cost. Practical Ways This Deepens Appreciation • Gratitude grows when we visualize how deliberately Scripture recorded His suffering for us. • Confidence in God’s Word is strengthened; fulfilled prophecy assures us that every promise of future salvation and glory will also come true (2 Corinthians 1:20). • Worship becomes richer; meditating on the concrete details moves adoration from abstract to heartfelt. • Holiness is pursued with seriousness; if sin required such a price, we treat it as God does (Romans 6:6–7). Responding to the Suffering Savior • Contemplate Psalm 22 alongside the Gospel crucifixion accounts for a fuller picture of the cross. • Let the accuracy of verse 17 remind you daily that Christ sees, knows, and carries every detail of your life. • Live in the triumph Psalm 22 ends with, praising the One whose counted bones secured our uncountable blessings. |
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