How does Psalm 13:1 connect with Jesus' cry on the cross in Matthew 27:46? Drawing the Texts Together Psalm 13:1: “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” Matthew 27:46: “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’).” Shared Notes of Desperation • Both verses voice profound anguish at the seeming absence of God. • The lament is directed to “O LORD”/“My God,” revealing continued trust even while feeling forsaken. • The language of “forget” (Psalm 13) and “forsaken” (Matthew 27) highlights the same perceived divine distance. David’s Lament as a Prophetic Foreshadow • David’s cry stands as a real historical experience yet simultaneously anticipates the Greater Son of David (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Acts 2:30). • Old-Testament laments often function typologically: an individual king’s suffering points ahead to Messiah’s ultimate suffering (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53). • Thus Psalm 13 is both a personal prayer and a Spirit-inspired preview of Calvary. Jesus, the Fulfillment of the Lament • On the cross Jesus takes up the vocabulary of lament (Psalm 22:1) and embodies its deepest meaning—bearing the curse of sin (Galatians 3:13). • What David felt in part, Jesus bore in full: genuine separation under judgment (2 Corinthians 5:21). • By quoting Psalm 22, Jesus implicitly gathers all lament psalms, including Psalm 13, into His redemptive suffering. The Hidden Face of God Explained • Sin hides God’s face (Isaiah 59:2). At the cross Jesus stands in the sinner’s place, experiencing that hiddenness. • Habakkuk 1:13 affirms God’s pure eyes cannot look on wickedness; so when Christ became sin for us, the Father’s face was “hidden” from Him. • Psalm 13’s plea, “How long…?” receives its definitive answer: until the cross is finished (John 19:30). Movement from Desolation to Deliverance Psalm 13:5-6: “But I have trusted in Your loving devotion… I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.” • David’s lament ends in confident praise; Jesus’ lament leads to resurrection morning (Matthew 28:6). • The pattern—distress, petition, deliverance—finds its climactic fulfillment when the tomb is emptied (Acts 2:24). Practical Encouragements • Honest lament is welcomed by God; Scripture validates crying out when He feels distant. • Because Christ entered our abandonment, believers will never be truly forsaken (Hebrews 13:5). • The resurrection guarantees that every “How long?” has a coming “I will sing.” |
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