Jesus Knew Redux

(Psalm 22 on the right, response on the left. Style inspired by many poems of Kestrel.)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 

Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 

Of course You knew

You still begged

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel

Is it enough that Your Father knows?

 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them

 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame

Remembrance, a gift not among men

 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people

Aslan, where is your mane?

 All who see me mock me

The lamb opened not his mouth, but what of the lion?

 They make mouths at me; they wag their heads 

 “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

It seems tempting to pray the mockery as if they’re right

 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts
 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God

Why abandoned now, after so long?

Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

Is this the day to win the war?

Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me
They open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion

You could take them all, but you’re here for them

Do you love them as you die?

So often You slipped out of their hands to give away one time You’d stay

I wonder, when You meant to pass by on the sea

Walking, just walking

Were you thinking about their sins in Your soul?

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint

Splash

My heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast

Drip

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws

Empty

You lay me in the dust of death

At least it’s Him and not them—or does that make it worse?

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me
they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones— 

Three hundred fifty

not one break

Just one heart

break

They stare and gloat over me

They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots

But you, O LORD, do not be far off! 

Just You, that’s all

never been

                                     Se

                                                       para

                                                                         ted

O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 

Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 
Save me from the mouth of the lion! 

You have answered me.

Three days pass

You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

Alive

You are and are and are

I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you 

Tell me the story again, how God became a man, and I will praise

These words speak for themselves

 You who fear the LORD, praise him! 
   All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, 
   and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 
 For he has not despised or abhorred 
   the affliction of the afflicted, 
and he has not hidden his face from him, 
   but has heard, when he cried to him.

 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; 
   my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 

 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; 
   those who seek him shall praise the LORD! 
   May your hearts live forever!

  All the ends of the earth shall remember 
   and turn to the LORD, 
and all the families of the nations 
   shall worship before you. 
 For kingship belongs to the LORD, 
   and he rules over the nations.

 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; 
   before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, 
   even the one who could not keep himself alive. 
 Posterity shall serve him; 
   it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 
 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that

We know

He has done it!