Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 22

My God, my God. —Hebrew, Eli, Eli, lama azavtanî, where the Targum paraphrases sabbacthani, the form used by our Saviour on the cross. (See Notes, N. T. Comm.,Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34.) The Septuagint and Vulgate insert “look upon me.” (Compare to English Prayer Book version.) For the despairing tone, compare to Psalms 80:14. It suits the whole of pious Israel in her times of trouble even better than any individual.

The second part of the verse is obscure from its lyric conciseness, but the Authorised Version has given the meaning, though sacrificing the rhythm—
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me,
Far from my aid, from the words of my groaning?”

i.e., far from listening to the words that escape me only in groans.

Roaring. —A word used generally of a lion (Isaiah 5:29); but also of a man (Psalms 38:9). Hitzig’s conjecture, “from my cry,” instead of “from my help,” is very plausible, since it makes the parallelism complete and involves a very slight change. The Septuagint and Vulgate have “the words of my offences.”

And am not silent. —This misses the parallelism, which evidently requires O my God, I cry in the daytime, and you do not answer; in the night, and find no repose.

But. —In spite of his seeming desertion the poet still believes Jehovah is the God of the covenant—still the Holy One in whom His people could trust.

The phrase “inhabiting the praises of Israel,” recalls the more usual thou that dwellest between the cherubims (1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; Psalms 80:1; Psalms 99:1, see the note). But the idea here is more spiritual. The ever-ascending praises of His people become a throne for the Divine King, and take the place of the outstretched wings of the cherubim. Perhaps there is a reminiscence of Exodus 15:11-12. This explanation is at once more literal and better than the Rabbinical, “enthroned as the praises.” (Compare Aquila: “as the hymns.”)

Confounded — that is, ashamed.

Worm. —An indication of extreme degradation and helplessness. .