Morning Devotions: Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?  
Psalm 22:1 
Matthew 27:46 
  
A phrase so terrible and haunting that it echoed from the time of King David to you, right here, where you are, in this moment. 
  

In Hebrew,  El is a name used for any god or important person. It indicates “strength.” A “yod” is added as a suffix which adds the meaning of “hand that guides me” to the word. In Matthew 27:46, Y’shua-Jesus is crying out Psalm 22:1 to the Almighty (His strength) whose hand has always guided him. "Eli, Eli! Why have you forsaken Me?
  
There are times that I feel completely alone. My best friend doesn’t understand, my family doesn’t get it, my prayers seem to go to the ceiling and just bounce back to me with cruel laughter. I feel forsaken by those I depend on for fellowship and mutual encouragement. My heart aches, actually, my whole body tends to ach at those times. 
  
Y’shua knows how you feel. No matter how horrid your experience, I promise you that His was worse, but he will never say that to you when you hurt, he will just love you with the love that survivors of that pain are able to give. Y’shua experienced all your pain and he is the source of your comfort. He knows that this moment of pain is not the end, in fact, it is the point of a new beginning. Dying to self to live for him. Read the rest of Psalm 22. Verse 11 tells you to stand firm—the Almighty is not far from you even though trouble fills all your senses. Verse 19 is our assurance that in the Spirit realm, where our real enemy is at work even though we cannot see him, the Almighty is fighting for us, and his fight is victory!

 Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.     (verse 3)

Feeling alone? The Almighty is as close as your praise.

I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
You who fear the LORD, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.
For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.
(verses 22-24)

Mrs. Hagerty, February 16, 2016