Psalm 22
Jesus hangs from a cross and cries "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" And here David cries "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" For a long time I have used Jesus's quote to talk about how we are allowed to doubt because here we see even Jesus doubting. While I still think that is true, as I read Psalm 22 yet again I begin to think that Jesus was doing a lot more from the cross than voicing a doubt.
As we read the Psalm we immediately go from doubt to belief. Then we move from our unworthiness to our chosen-ness. Next we go from being broken and surrounded to our help still being found in God and the willingness to still proclaim God's goodness. So while I still think Jesus had some doubts while covered only in blood sweat and tears I believe that he was also saying, 'this is as bad as it gets but I will still cling to who God is and who God has been and who God will be.'
I have never hung from a cross [obviously] but I have been in some dire straits before and all too often I question God's presence and action without the strength of belief that God is good and will attend to my needs. David here, and Jesus later, reminds us that we can question and doubt but also reminds us that those questions and doubts need to be couched in language that speaks of God's goodness and how God has saved us before and will save us again, in whatever manner God has and whatever manner God will.
+ How do you understand the connections between faith and doubt? Do you allow yourself to doubt?
+ Is there a right/wrong way to doubt?
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