March 1 When I am Afraid

Psalm 22:16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.
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Lord, you were surrounded by those bent to harm you. As dogs bare their teeth at their prey, you were hounded and snarled at. You must have felt cornered and under assault.

When I feel just a little afraid, looked down upon or under a verbal thrashing, remind me that you understand. Comfort me. I trust you.

Psalm 56:3 3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you"

This photograph was taken of a painting in the Catholic church in our small town in Germany.

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Notes on Psalm 22. I have chosen passages referring to the Messiah being pierced to focus on this next week. As I studied this verse, I found that the Hebrew word of the original language used for "pierced" in this Psalm is different from all the other ones in the Old Testament and is rather vague. Even so, this Psalm is quoted a lot by New Testament authors and Jesus Himself quoted it while on the cross.

The commentary "Hard Sayings of the Bible" is helpful. It was published by Intervarsity Press in 1996. Editors are Walter Kaiser Jr, Peter Davids, FF Bruce and Manfred Brauch.

"Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David went beyond the boundaries of all his own sufferings as he pictured the one who would suffer an even greater agony.

Yes, David did see the sufferings of that final one who would come in his life; but he also saw that the Messiah would emerge victorious, with a kingdom that would never fail." p 267.

I encourage you to go to the right box for Biblegateway.com and check out the entire Psalm 22.