RCPC Greatest Hit from Louis Newton in 2007
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” - Psalm 22:1
“For He did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; He did not hide His face from me, but heard when I cried to Him.” - Psalm 22:24
Psalm 22 is a scriptural passage of great contrast, as shown by the two verses quoted above. The first portion of the psalm prophetically speaks of the suffering and death of our Savior. Verse 1 and several others were literally fulfilled by words that He uttered and events that took place during His crucifixion. Thus, they speak to us of Good Friday. They can also speak to us of the distressing times when we as Christians may have felt that God has forsaken us.
The latter verses of the psalm remind us of Christ’s victory through the resurrection. Thus, they speak to us of the triumphant message of Easter. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we can be sure that God has not hidden His face from us. When we cry to Him in prayer, He hears us.
In the words of one of William Cowper’s hymns, “Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.” Or, in the words of another hymn, “He forgets not His own.”