6 But I am a worm, and no man; a
reproach of men, and despised of the people. (Psalms 22:6)
In
the 1998 Spring edition of the Logos of St Andrews, I published an article
entitled, “The Crimson Worm.” I was surprised to see the story
published on the web by another Christian magazine in 2011 and the content was
very nearly verbatim from my own account. The more widely the story is
published, the greater glory to God. I have decided to include the story from
that edition of the Logos as a part of today’s devotion:
The Crimsom Worm
Psalm 22, a Messianic Psalm, begins with these woeful and wonderful
words, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Of the seven
words from the cross, these words are perhaps the most mysterious. And of these
words, the central word is, 'WHY?' Why did the Creator of the world and the
King of Glory condescend to be made lowly as man and to offer himself a
sacrifice for the Redemption of men?
Lenten Season is past for many months but perhaps we should continue
to observe the great promise and meaning of these holy days throughout the
Church year.
WHY did Christ suffer and die for you and me? Because without the
shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Heb 9:22), and that sacrifice
must be one without blemish or guilt. Jesus Christ is the One and only
substitute who could qualify to be the atoning Lamb whose blood could redeem
us. The ONLY One in all of time and eternity. And He was willing to make the
uttermost sacrifice for sinful man.
In verse 6 of this great Psalm describing the suffering of Christ on
the cross, our Savior makes a rather puzzling statement: "But I am a
worm, and no man." As a child I used to ponder those words in
disbelief. How could Jesus describe Himself so? A close study of the word
'worm' as used in this text will render a deeper appreciation for what our
Savior is relating. The Hebrew word for worm used in this text, is TOLA'ATH.
The precise meaning of this Hebrew word is 'Crimson Worm'. The Crimson Worm
(coccus ilicis) is common to the region of old Israel and was used in the
dyeing of garments to scarlet. The natural characteristics and life cycle of
this worm are noteworthy.
While living in Iran (old Persia) my curiosity was aroused by many
trees that had what appeared to be a large bloody spot on their trunks. When I
asked the locals about this, they told me the bloody spot was made by a crimson
Worm.
When the Crimson Worm is prepared to reproduce offspring (and she does
so only once in her life) she rigidly attaches herself to a tree or a wooden
fencepost in such a way that she can never be removed without tearing her body
completely apart. And when her young ones arrive, they feed upon the LIVING
body of the mother - a decidedly painful sacrifice – just as the Christian
feeds upon the Living Bread of Heaven (Jesus Christ). Then, when the young are
able to survive apart from the mother, she dies. And as she dies, she exudes a
scarlet dye which not only stains the tree, but her young ones as well. Thus
they are colored by the mother's scarlet dye and remain so for the remainder of
their lives. How like the blood of Jesus, forever shed as a covering for us!
The most important and critical question any of us can ask ourselves
is, "Are we covered by the blood of Jesus? Are our doorposts and lintels
stained with his redeeming blood (Exodus 12:22)? When others look upon us, do
they see the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ?"
How about you, my friends? Are you covered by the Blood?
©Logos of St Andrew - Spring 1998
There are many types of Christ in the Holy Bible, especially the Old Testament;
and here, we find that a lowly worm of crimson nature is also a Type of Christ!
He died that we might live.
7 All they
that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head,
saying, 8 He trusted on
the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in
him.
(Psalm 22:7-8) It seems unnatural that the very ones for whom
Christ died scorned Him with ridicule and taunts. And, yes, it was truly
unnatural, because this was a Divine sacrifice and not the execution of a
convicted criminal! It is not a natural characteristic of mortals to suffer so
for those who hate us and are our soul’s enemy. Thank God that the perfect Man –
Jesus – also had a Divine Nature of Love.
You
will note that verses 7 and 8 are recorded in the Gospels at the crucifixion: 35 And the
people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He
saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. (Luke
23:35)
29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and
saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, 30 Save thyself,
and come down from the cross. 31 Likewise also
the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved
others; himself he cannot save. 32 Let Christ the
King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” (Mark
15:29-32)
Even under such horrible circumstances, Christ took courage in His Father: 9 But thou
art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my
mother's breasts. 10 I was cast upon
thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. 11 Be not far from
me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. (Psalm
22:9-11) Yes, Jesus was the Son of God from His birth at Bethlehem, and He was
His Father’s Son in Eternity Past as well. Jesus does not forget who He is, and
who His Father is. And He knows that His Father will not finally abandon Him at
Calvary.
Those who accused Christ and advocated His crucifixion were doing the devil’s
part, and took on the likeness, themselves of devils: 12 Many bulls
have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon
me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. (Psalm
22:12-13) Read the same account of
this Psalm verse in Matthew: 36 And
sitting down they watched him there. (Matt 27:36) And further,
read of the nature of the devil: Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) I see many
depraved souls among those of the Middle East today who are very well fitted to
do the devil’s work as well.
Now
follows a very scientific explanation of the effects of crucifixion: 14 I am poured out
like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is
melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is
dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast
brought me into the dust of death. (Psalms 22:14-15) Medical
scientists have said that the crucifixion would be described precisely as this
passage claims. When Christ was nailed to the cross, the cross was moved to the
upright position to allow it to slip into the hole that was prepared for it. It
fell perhaps four to six feet and jolted to a halt as the cross impacted the
underlying stone foundation. This jolt would pull the arms out of joint of the
victim being crucified. It then becomes impossible for one to pull oneself up
enough to allow oxygen to freely enter the lungs. The only relief for air would
come when the victim struggle with his feet to lift his body slightly. This
would result in sharp and excruciating pains and would be only allow for slight
relief. Jesus could feel His bones out of joint there on the cross. The
strenuous and exhausting struggle, combined with the exorbitant pain, over
hours of the ordeal would have caused watery fluid to build up in the thoracic
cavity surrounding the lungs and heart. This results in a lack of space for the
lungs to inflate properly and the heart to beat normally and without
over-working. The medical term for this condition would be acute congestive
heart failure.
The
acute loss of blood from the beatings, the crown of thorns, and the nail
piercings would contribute to severe thirst and dryness of mouth – so much so
that the tongue would tend to adhere to the roof of the mouth and the jaws. The
final death of Christ was probably a result of a broken heart caused by the
congestive heart failure mentioned earlier. You will recall: 32 Then came
the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was
crucified with him. 33 But when they
came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34 But one of the
soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and
water. (John 19:32-34) The water gushing forth is consistent
with congestive heart failure.
16 For dogs have
compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my
hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all
my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my
garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalms
22:16-18) In the Old Testament, the term ‘dog’ refers to an unclean animal or
even a homosexual: 17 There shall
be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
18 Thou shalt
not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog (male prostitute), into
the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are
abomination unto the LORD thy God. (Deut 23:17-18) They parted His
garments at the foot of the cross and cast lots on them. This, too, is
described in the Gospel account: 35 And they
crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them,
and upon my vesture did they cast lots. (Matt 27:35)
The next
words uttered by our Lord from the cross are uttered near His death. His
sacrifice is almost complete, and He can rally His Soul in the knowledge that,
very soon, the redemption will be finished, and He may share glory once more
with His beloved Father: 19 But be not thou
far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul
from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the
lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. (Psalms
22:18-21) Perhaps the Lord makes reference to the rhinoceros as a unicorn since
it was considered the strongest of all wild beasts. The Lord is not pleading
for His life here, or for salvation from the cross, but that His Father would
be ready, momentarily, to receive His Spirit into His own loving arms. Our
Father in Heaven is never closer to one of His children (and His especially His
Only Begotten Son) than as they near the point of death. God is now very near
to His beloved Son in Whom He is well pleased: 46 And when
Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father,
into thy hands I commend my spirit:
and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46)
At
the conclusion of Verse 21, “It is finished!”
The pain and ordeal of the cross is past. We will discover the words of the
resurrected Lord in the remaining verses of this Psalm which we will discuss in
following devotions.
Discussion
There are sharply divided opinions among theologians regarding the
Person depicted in this Psalm. It is considered a Messianic Psalm because it
relates to Christ. Every line of the Psalm has a corresponding meaning in the
crucifixion and resurrection of Christ as proven by numerous passages from the
Gospels. But some ‘scholars’ (i.e. the good Adam Clarke) claim these lines are
no more than the words and experiences of David in the wilderness. How can this
be? David did not suffer such indignation. His garments were not taken and lots
cast on them. He had no nails to pierce his hands and his feet. His bones were
not out of joint. The entire seen refutes the argument that this Person is
anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in the good company of Matthew
Henry in attributing this entire Psalm to Christ!
PSALM 22
To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A
Psalm of David.
1
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why
art thou so far from helping me, and
from the words of my roaring?
2
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season,
and am not silent.
3
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of
Israel.
4
Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5
They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not
confounded.
6
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach
of men, and despised of the people.
7
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the
head, saying,
8
He trusted on the LORD that he would
deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9
But thou art he that took me out of
the womb: thou didst make me hope when I
was upon my mother's breasts.
10
I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art
my God from my mother's belly.
11
Be not far from me; for trouble is
near; for there is none to help.
12
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls
of Bashan have beset me round.
13
They gaped upon me with their mouths,
as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like
wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and
thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they
pierced my hands and my feet.
17
I may tell all my bones: they look and
stare upon me.
18
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19
But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20
Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21
Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the
unicorns.
22
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will
I praise thee.
23
Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and
fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither
hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25
My praise shall be of thee in the
great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26
The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him:
your heart shall live for ever.
27
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds
of the nations shall worship before thee.
28
For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he
is the governor among the nations.
29
All they that be fat upon earth shall
eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and
none can keep alive his own soul.
30
A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31
They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall
be born, that he hath done this.
