Psalm 22- He dwells in the praises of His people

 Psalm 22- He Dwells 

Psalm 22 has been widely written about since it is one of the most descriptive messianic prophesies.

Psalms 22:1 (NKJV) To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. 

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? [Why are You so] far from helping Me, [And from] the words of My groaning?

Psalms 22:11-18 (NKJV) 

11 Be not far from Me, For trouble [is] near; For [there is] none to help. 12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong [bulls] of Bashan have encircled Me. 13 They gape at Me [with] their mouths, [Like] a raging and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look [and] stare at Me. 18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.

Psalms 22:31 (NKJV) 

Theywill come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done [this.]

I won’t comment further on these verses as most of us are familiar with the crucifixion story in the New Testament and can easily see how it was prophesied here. 

However there is one verse here that I want to comment on.

Psalms22:3 (NKJV) But You [are] holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

In this verse, we see the beginnings of the New Testament concept that the Lord dwells, or abides in His people. The Hebrew word yāšaḇ is translated “enthroned” here, but it also could be rendered as “dwell” or “abide”. This is a departure from most Old Testament verses that state that the Lord dwells on high, or between the cherubim in the temple. (Psa 2:4 He sits in heaven, Psa 99:1 He dwells between the cherubim). Dwelling in the praises of His people is a. It closer to the New Testament concept.

1 Corinthians 3:16

16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not yourown?

Ephesians 2:21-22

21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built togetherinto a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

It is fitting that this verse would be included with the messianic prophesies since is the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Messiah that initiated the new covenant in which the Holy Spirit is able to to dwell in his people. No longer do we have to look to a temple built with stone and timber to find the Lord. He is with us and in us wherever we go! 

In first Corinthians, Paul goes in to say how this should affect our behavior.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Basically he is saying , “the Spirit of God dwells in you so act like it!” Lord, help us to represent you in this world as the living, breathing temple of God.