Psalm 22:22-28 PRAISE God!

Have you ever experienced a great sports game? Whether it was live in the audience or on television, you were probably cheering for your team to win. If your team was losing, you’d show loyalty by your presence. You would praise them when they did good, and you would wish them well the next time. How did you feel when they were winning? You were excited. You hooped and hollered. You shouted out your praise for the work of some of the team members. You shouted for joy at the last second when your team won.

That is the praise expressed in these verses. In context, this Psalm begins with what sounds like a losing team. If you read the beginning of Psalm 22, you hear the sounds of how Jesus Christ the Son of God is losing the Ultimate Competition for the souls of men and women.

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1, HCSB)

God has left His presence as the sin of the world has ben set upon Him.

“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by people.” (Psalm 22:6, HCSB)

His appearance is so disgusting that even the people turn their faces from Him.

“Everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer and shake their heads:” (Psalm 22:7, HCSB)

People are watching what seems to be a losing team.

““He relies on the Lord; let Him rescue him; let the Lord deliver him, since He takes pleasure in him.”” (Psalm 22:8, HCSB)

They tell others that God has to deliver Him. “He delivered others but He can’t deliver Himself.”

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me.” (Psalm 22:14, HCSB)

“For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me.” (Psalm 22:16–17, HCSB)

The crucifixion is killing Him. He has been nailed to the cross and He is near death.

“They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.” (Psalm 22:18, HCSB)

He watches as soldiers divided His last possessions on Earth.

“But You, Lord, don’t be far away. My strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword, my only life from the power of these dogs.” (Psalm 22:19–20, HCSB)

“Into Your hands, I commit my spirit.” Jesus is asking for the last help as He dies. Looking from the outside, you would think Jesus lost. But in Heaven, there are millions of cheerleaders praising God for His wonderful work.The heavenly cheerleaders are praising God for how He delivered His earthly people from sure destruction by the death of His Son Jesus on the cross.

David turned his attention from the scene of the cross and his own seemingly despairing situation. Like a man who realizes in the last two minutes of the game that the team is winning, David starts to praise God.

If you want to praise a winning team…if you want to turn your losing situation into a winning situation…if you want to see God show victory in your life, then learning how to praise Him is an important part of that development. If you do want to learn how to praise God, then here are six qualities of people who praise God. Emulate these qualities. Praise God using these methods. Learn to hoop and holler for God in your time of need.

SIX QUALITIES OF PEOPLE WHO PRAISE GOD

P – Proclaim

They proclaim Jesus

“I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the congregation.” (Psalm 22:22, HCSB)

R – Revere

They revere God, they honor Him.

“You who fear Yahweh, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him! All you descendants of Israel, revere Him!” (Psalm 22:23, HCSB)

Song: Praise Him! Praise Him!

A – Answer

Praise is answering back to God because He answered our cry.

“For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He did not hide His face from him but listened when he cried to Him for help.” (Psalm 22:24, HCSB)

I – Identify

Praise is a form of identification. I praise God because I identify with Him. I want others to know that God is my God. He is my Lord.

“I will give praise in the great congregation because of You; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.” (Psalm 22:25, HCSB)

Song: I Will His Gates/He Has Made Me Glad

S – Satisfy

Praise helps see my satisfaction in God. Because I know that God takes care of me, and I receive my satisfaction from Him. Therefore, I praise Him.

“The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!” (Psalm 22:26, HCSB)

E – Everyone

“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will bow down before You,” (Psalm 22:27, HCSB)

“for kingship belongs to the Lord; He rules over the nations.” (Psalm 22:28, HCSB)

Praise is not for individuals alone. We come as a congregation to praise God. We will come together as families to praise Him. We come as nations to praise Him. In the end, we will come together to praise Him.

At some point, everyone will praise God.

“By Myself I have sworn; Truth has gone from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.” (Isaiah 45:23, HCSB)

At the beginning of rest of eternity, the team will be reassembled. The winning player, God the Father – the One who delivered His Son Jesus in the final moments of that last important move to save the world – will be hoisted on the platform. He will take His rightful place to receive the honor and praise due Him. We will praise God for eternity. He deserves your praise starting today!

Song: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow