Monday, March 20, 2017
Psalm 22:1-5 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
WHY ME?
This question isn't normally heard when things are going well. When Jesus spoke on the cross "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me," I wonder why it didn't ring a bell with the Jews who undoubtedly knew this Psalm of David! After all, it was the God of Israel, whose strength and unfailing mercy delivered their forefathers again and again. Those who trusted in Him were never ashamed, never disappointed in their Almighty LORD!
When I'm tempted to question "why me" when something seemingly negative happens, I want to remember what Jesus Himself told His disciples, "Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms" (Luke 24:44). Jesus recalls the fact that His Father never forsakes those who trust in Him. My Savior took comfort knowing even though His Father forsook Him on the cross for my sake, He would go on not only to approve of His payment of sin with His death, but glorify Him in raising Him from the dead! In considering this Lenten/Passion season I may ask positively the typical negative question "why me?" A simple question, answered with God's simple Word of Love.
Jesus, I will ponder now On Thy holy Passion;
With Thy Spirit me endow For such meditation.
Grant that I in love and faith May the image cherish
Of Thy suffering, pain, and death, That I may not perish.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 140:1)
