In Psalm 22, David laments his life-threatening circumstances—danger from enemies (see verses 20-21), perhaps in the midst of severe illness (see verse 17) wherein his enemies are jostling around him in anticipation of his death, possibly to be equated with other psalms where David languishes in bodily affliction. Yet here he uses words that directly foreshadow the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. "The language David uses to describe his own predicament is prompted by the Holy Spirit. Thus it could span a thousand years to describe precisely the experiences of the Savior Jesus—both His excruciating death and victorious resurrection" (Nelson Study Bible, introductory note on Psalm 22).

During His crucifixion ordeal, Jesus cried out with the words that begin this psalm, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" (verse 1; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)—as at this point, Jesus bore the sins of all humanity and God sternly rejects sin. It does not seem that Jesus just said these words only to fulfill prophecy. No doubt He really felt them for the moment. And remarkably, He and the Father foresaw a thousand years beforehand that He would feel this way—and inspired David to record these words and thoughts accordingly.

David suffers intensely through his dire circumstances, but he still trusts in God to deliver him (verses 3-5). At present, he is humiliated: "I am a worm, and no man" (verse 6). The phrase "they shoot out the lip" (verse 7) is also translated "they hurl insults" (NIV) and "they make mouths at me" (NRSV). Christ's tormentors mocked and taunted just as David's words portend, even in the specific manner of verse 8 (Matthew 27:27-31, Matthew 27:39-44).

David describes his encroaching enemies as "strong bulls of Bashan" (Psalm 22:12)—Bashan being the northeastern region of Israel "noted for its fine breed of cattle" (Deuteronomy 32:14; Ezekiel 39:18)" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, “Ba’shan"). Yet they are not only strong and powerful, but are fierce and raging like lions (Psalm 22:13). Jesus faced the hatred of the Jewish religious leadership and the brutality of the Romans.

Where David says, "My tongue clings to My jaws" (verse 15), we should recall Jesus' anguished words on the cross, "I thirst" (John 19:28).

In a surprising statement in the next verse, "They pierced My hands and My feet," David "explicitly predicts the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. The words are merely a figure of speech for the terrifying experiences of David; but as a prophet (Acts 2:30), David spoke accurately of the sufferings of Jesus" (Nelson Study Bible note on verse 16). It should be noted, however, that instead of "They pierced," the Masoretic vowel pointing gives this as "Like a lion," which is the preferred Jewish translation. Yet this rendering leaves out a verb. The Jewish Publication Society Tanakh fills in with the word maul: "like lions {they maul} my hands and feet." The Expositor's Bible Commentary says: "ka'ari (...lit[erally], 'like the lion') has occasioned much discussion. The [Greek Septuagint translation] reads a verb—'they pierced,' as does the NIV, from karah...or from... k-w-r'pierce'.... Some suggest a homonym of the root k-r-h ('bind') and read 'they have bound my hands and my feet'.... The text remains an exegetical problem" (footnote on verse 16).

Yet even apart from knowingly or unknowingly prophesying Christ's form of execution, it should not be hard to imagine David thinking of his own body being figuratively nailed up in a shaming display. For penal suspension was known to that era. As an example, the Philistines literally fastened the dead bodies of Saul and his sons to the wall of Beth Shan as a public disgrace (1 Samuel 31:8-10).

"I can count all my bones" in verse 17 would seem to refer to David being able to see his bones through his skin, being gaunt from lack of nourishment because of illness or being on the run. Yet in Jesus' case it may refer to the actual exposure of His bones from the severe, flaying scourging He endures.

David's statement at the end of verse 17, "They look and stare at Me," finds its New Testament counterpart in Luke 23:35, "And the people stood looking on." Indeed, this follows right after the end of Luke 23:34, "And they divided His garments and cast lots." This was specifically prophesied in the next verse of Psalm 22, verse 18. Matthew 27:35 actually quotes from this verse and notes its fulfillment.

Of course, we should recognize that all of Christ's followers become partakers of His sufferings (Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 1:5; 2 Corinthians 1:7; Philippians 1:29; Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:3). Therefore, just as David prayed this prayer for himself, so can all of us pray in the words of this prayer when we are faced with severe circumstances.

We should note that the psalm does not end with a focus on suffering. Rather, verses 19-21 call on God to intervene and the end of verse 21 assures us that He has (for David and for Christ), just as He will for us. The verses to follow speak of the ultimate deliverance and triumph that is found in God.

In response to his deliverance, David speaks of declaring the name of God in the congregation of the faithful—publicly to his "brethren...in the midst of the assembly" (verse 22), "in the great assembly" at the temple (verse 25). The book of Hebrews notes this as the confession of Christ, who is not ashamed to call us His followers His "brethren" (Hebrews 2:12). The assembly of brethren represents the called-out assembly of God today—His Church. And the great assembly would seem to denote what we find in Hebrews 12:22: "Mount Zion...the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem...an innumerable company of angels...the general assembly and church of the firstborn."

Verses 27-28 of Psalm 22 picture the worship of God in the Kingdom. "All the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the Kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations." Then, everyone will declare the wonderful works of God and teach the good news from one generation to the next. As Expositor's notes on verses 30-31, "The praise of God will extend from generation to generation. The story of redemption will not only include the nations but also generations yet unborn...each generation will join in with the telling of the story of redemption and of His kingship (cf. vv.3-5) and will, in the process of transmitting it, add what God has done for them."