Why have You forsaken me?

 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?”-Psalm 22:1

One of the famous last words uttered by our Lord on the cross embodied in two of the gospels (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34); “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Perhaps the reaction from the rulers and the crowds were not misplaced (Luke 23:35-36). After all, he claimed to be God. The common understanding through the lens of Hellenistic culture in the first century would be the portrayal of omnipotence (all-powerful) gods that far superior to the likes of man (ancient Greek gods like Zeus, Ares, Poseidon, Hades, etc,.) For a person who claimed himself to be God or His Chosen One, bleeding to death, and crying for help clearly ungodly. But, why such reverence and faith entrusted upon one man who died on the cross two thousands years ago? After all, he was not the first to die on the cross, and from the biblical account, he was not the only person crucified on that day.

As we approach the Holy Week and soon, the curtain of the drama will close with the final scene of Christ death upon the cross. Time and time again we have heard of this story. Time and time again, we cried for the depiction of the “Passion of the Christ”. But, can we really empathize with him who has died on the cross for us? Perhaps we can. Some may not. But, it is alright to not be able to fathom it. After all, the life that we live nowadays taught us to be individualistic; my concern is not your concern. Social media flooded with entries that encourage slander and hate. Take for example, how much hate people throw at the victim of Covid-19 who may has become the caused for the abrupt spreads of the virus in this state. Wrong they may be, but how right are we in this dance of society?

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Perhaps this is the most common phrase spoken during my time of difficulties. This is the beginning of Psalm 22 written by David; supposedly during his time of hiding and fleeing from King Saul, who desire his life. Over-optimistic Christian would shun this psalm (or the entire book of Lamentation) for such negative emotion. It does not come to a surprise when nowadays, the sermon we have listened to “only” inspire “love” and “joy”. Not wrong, but not entirely right either. Otherwise, why would people call us Christian delirious? Truly, the greatest joy could only come from surviving the hopeless situation. David exemplified it well through this psalm.

No, this is not about casting doubt to our Almighty God nor do this be the encouragement to live in hopelessness since there is no way that we could escape this reality. However, let this be a reflection to us that the cry for help not so much for the immediate rescue from disaster. This cry to the LORD is the expression of pure trust; that He will deliver us. Jesus cried it out, trusting that God’s ultimate goal to deliver us will be accomplished. Hence, every gospel writers depicted the veil of the temple torn down, two of them wrote it immediately after this phrase. His work is finished. Just like how David cried in despair in the beginning of the Psalm 22 but ended it with unfailing trust on the LORD, so thus Jesus ended it with the greatest victory that mankind could possibly achieve through Him; death defeated.

Death; a topic that we all wish to avoid for it brings nothing but sadness and uncertainty. But, death also is God’s gift to us. The only thing that is fair and equally receive by all living things, all status of society; death is impartial in his embrace. Certainly a victory over death is a sound victory to us and yet, physical death could still causes grievances. What then are we to hope for in that situation? It is easier said than done to tell the bereaved family “God loves him more”. This phrase itself posed a greater misunderstanding. Does it mean that God “less-loving” toward us in this world hence we are still alive? It is far from being the truth. For when God created mankind, His final creation; mankind, completed His work of arts that He uttered “very good” to His creation (Genesis 1:31). So, what is up with the partiality? No. The partiality only exist in the finite and limited mind of humankind; tainted by the sin.

So, because of the sin we view everything through the lenses of human sinfulness (Romans 3:10). As much as we tried to deny it, each and everyone of us sinful (I am sorry to those who think that they has been spared from committing sins). Because of this reality of hopelessness (at least in the perspective of sinful humankind), we cannot possibly save ourselves by our own effort or holiness (again, I am sorry to those who are religious in practice trusting that your deeds could grant you heaven). Because of this, I have come to full acceptance of death and pain as the mean for God to stir our soul with the desire to completely trust Him for deliverance. Learned from the personal experience, the drive to trust God completely does not solve the problems immediately, but it does help to calm the inner storm that could be well use by the devil to drive us to the state of despair; instead of trusting God, we trust on despair and hopelessness.

David rightly so proclaimed and testified to the fact that our praises could only come from the LORD our God. In other words, only through despair and hopeless situation that we could praise Him wholeheartedly (the entire psalms of David captured the essence of praise in the midst of despair). Despair is not the end to our praises, but it could be the beginning to our praise. Why should we praise Him who driven us to the corner? Well, that is because He is our creator and all living things should live to praise Him (Psalm 150:6). For we are created for praises of Him who seated on the heavenly throne, delighted on His creation.

Truly, this encouragement that comes from a person that struggle with clinical depression may not be so convincing to hear but what I can firmly assured to you, friends, is that praises surely will come out of us at the time of despair and desperation. For God never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Here the LORD has done His end of the covenant by giving His Son to die on the cross for our sin. Our end of the agreement is to be strong and courageous even when things goes wrong, know that He never leave us. Hang in there, we are all in this pilgrim together. Soon we will reach the promised land and that eternal rest.