What is the meaning of Psalm 22:21? Save me from the mouth of the lion “Save me from the mouth of the lion” (Psalm 22:21a) • A literal cry for rescue: David pictures himself moments from being torn apart, leaning on God exactly as he did when he faced real lions while guarding sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-37). • The lion stands for vicious, stalking enemies. Scripture often uses the lion this way—“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8), and yet “the Lord stood with me and strengthened me… I was delivered from the lion’s mouth” (2 Timothy 4:17). • Prophetically, the verse anticipates Messiah surrounded by jeering foes at Calvary (Psalm 22:13, “they open their mouths against Me like lions”), underscoring both the real danger and the certainty of God’s deliverance. At the horns of the wild oxen “…at the horns of the wild oxen…” (Psalm 22:21b) • Wild oxen (sometimes called “strong bulls,” cf. Psalm 22:12) evoke unstoppable brute force; their horns symbolize lethal power (Deuteronomy 33:17; Psalm 92:10). • David feels pinned to the ground, as though the sharp horns are about to gore him. The image heightens the urgency: this is not a mild inconvenience but life-or-death. • On the cross, Jesus experienced that same encirclement—“strong bulls of Bashan surround Me” (Psalm 22:12)—embodying humanity’s violent opposition to God’s anointed yet also fulfilling God’s redemptive plan (Acts 2:23-24). You have answered me! “…You have answered me!” (Psalm 22:21c) • Instant turnaround: the plea becomes praise in a single breath, confirming God’s faithfulness—“The LORD has heard my cry for mercy” (Psalm 6:9) and “Before they call, I will answer” (Isaiah 65:24). • For David, this meant tangible rescue from murderous pursuers; for Jesus, it points to the Father’s ultimate answer in the resurrection—“It is finished” (John 19:30) followed by “He has been raised” (Matthew 28:6). • The shout models confident faith: we can move from supplication to celebration, trusting the God who “delivers us from so great a death and will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:10). summary Psalm 22:21 captures the razor-edge moment between desperation and deliverance. David—and ultimately Christ—cries out for protection from predatory, overpowering foes. The lion and wild oxen portray real, ferocious danger, yet the final words ring with certainty: God has heard and acted. Because He answered then, we can take every peril, present or future, straight to Him and expect the same faithful rescue. |
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