Four psalms which speak prophetically of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ each look at His death in a different way. Psalm 40 is the burnt offering psalm, which focuses on the purposes of God; Psalm 69 is the trespass offering, which emphasizes the penalty; and Psalm 22 describes the passion of the Lord as the sin offering. While there may not be one specific psalm that parallels with the peace offering, there are several that give the sense, such as Psalm 85 or Psalm 118.

Psalm 22 is the first of three psalms together that reveal the Lord Jesus as the Shepherd. In Psalm 22 we can see Him as the Good Shepherd, laying down His life for the sheep (Jn. 10). Psalm 23 reveals Him as the Great Shepherd, providing for His sheep (Heb. 13:20–21). Psalm 24 presents Him as the Chief Shepherd, returning in glory (1 Pet. 5:4). Others have called these the psalms of “the Cross, the Crook, and the Crown.”

This psalm is divided into two main sections: the Suffering Savior (vv. 1–21a) and the blessings flowing from His sufferings (vv. 21b-31); or, as Peter would say, “the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” (1 Pet. 1:11).

In the section on the Suffering Savior, we see the sufferings of the Savior in three ways. First, at the holy hands of God (vv. 1–6a), then at the hateful hands of men (vv. 6b-18), and lastly at the hostile hands of Satan (vv. 19–21a).

Whether we view this psalm symbolically, historically, prophetically, or from a messianic view, we must “take off our shoes” for we are on holy ground! As you read this psalm, read it slowly, read it thoroughly, and pause to give praise to the One who loved you and gave Himself for you at Calvary!