Psalm 22: When God Feels Far Away

Summary In this sermon on Psalm 22, Dr. Michael Easley walks through one of the most honest and prophetic passages in Scripture. The psalm opens with the shocking words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”—a cry that many believers feel but rarely say out loud. David expresses deep anguish as he wrestles with the tension between what he knows about God and what he currently experiences. Though he feels abandoned, he refuses to stop praying. Dr. Easley shows how the psalm moves in cycles between despair and trust. David remembers God’s past faithfulness even while enemies surround him and God seems silent. Yet the turning point comes when David shifts his focus from his circumstances to God’s presence. His greatest request is not immediate rescue, but renewed closeness with the Lord. The sermon then highlights the powerful connection between Psalm 22 and the crucifixion of Jesus. The descriptions of suffering, mockery, and even the casting of lots for clothing point forward to Christ. While David asks to be delivered from death, Jesus delivers us through His death. Psalm 22 ultimately moves from personal suffering to public worship and global hope. The message reminds believers to keep praying, trust God in seasons of silence, and continue telling the story of Christ from generation to generation. Takeaways: Psalm 22 shows that believers can honestly bring their deepest anguish to God without pretending everything is fine. David wrestles with the tension between his theology about God and his painful experience of feeling abandoned. Even when God feels silent, the faithful response is to keep praying rather than walking away. The psalm vividly foreshadows the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not escape suffering like David desired—He endured it to save us. The message of Christ’s work must continue from one generation to the next until the whole world hears. To read the Psalms, click here. Click here for other Michael Easley Sermons.