Single lesson
Psalm 22: The Psalm of the Cross
Psalms 22:1–31
Psalm 22 is a song that begins with deep anguish and urgent prayer, then moves toward praise and confidence. It helps readers notice how the speaker brings pain, memory, trust and public worship before God.
Before you teach
In this psalm, the speaker cries out to God, describes mockery and severe suffering, asks for rescue, then promises praise in the assembly. The closing verses widen from one afflicted person to Israel, the nations and future generations who will hear about the Lord.
Describe the central teaching of Psalm 22: The Psalm of the Cross, using two details from the reading. Psalm 22 shows that a cry of abandonment can still be spoken to God, and that the psalm moves from distress toward praise because God hears the afflicted.
Welcome: Psalm 22: The Psalm of the Cross
4 minIntroduce “The Psalm of the Cross” and locate Psalms 22:1–31. Psalm 22 shows that a cry of abandonment can still be spoken to God, and that the psalm moves from distress toward praise because God hears the afflicted. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Psalms 22:1, Psalms 22:16, Psalms 22:31
Read and explain the passage
8 minThe psalm opens with painful questions: “Why have you forsaken me?” and “Why are you so far from helping me?” Yet the speaker still says, “My God”. He prays day and night, then remembers that God is holy and that earlier generations trusted God and were delivered.
The suffering is described with strong bodily language: poured out like water, dried strength, thirst, exposed bones and divided clothing. The speaker asks Yahweh to hurry and save his life. Then the wording turns: “you have rescued me”, leading into a promise to praise God among the assembly.
The final section calls those who fear Yahweh to praise him because he has not hidden his face from the afflicted but has heard. Praise spreads outward: the humble, all the ends of the earth, the nations, the rich, those going down to the dust and future generations will hear and declare his righteousness.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The Psalm of the Cross”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Psalms 22:1, Psalms 22:2, Psalms 22:3, Psalms 22:4, Psalms 22:5, Psalms 22:14, Psalms 22:15, Psalms 22:16, Psalms 22:17, Psalms 22:18, Psalms 22:19, Psalms 22:20, Psalms 22:21, Psalms 22:22, Psalms 22:23, Psalms 22:24, Psalms 22:25, Psalms 22:26, Psalms 22:27, Psalms 22:28, Psalms 22:29, Psalms 22:30, Psalms 22:31
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “How does the psalm show both pain and trust in its opening lines?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Psalm 22 shows that a cry of abandonment can still be spoken to God, and that the psalm moves from distress toward praise because God hears the afflicted. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Psalms 22:1, Psalms 22:4, Psalms 22:5, Psalms 22:12, Psalms 22:13, Psalms 22:14, Psalms 22:16, Psalms 22:23, Psalms 22:24
Make and respond: Words and images response sheet
9 minWork on “Psalm 22: The Psalm of the Cross: Words and images response sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Psalm of the Cross” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Psalms 22:1, Psalms 22:16, Psalms 22:31
Closing: return to The Psalm of the Cross
3 minRevisit Psalms 22:1–31. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Psalm of the Cross and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Psalms 22:1, Psalms 22:16, Psalms 22:31
Questions to explore
How does the psalm show both pain and trust in its opening lines?
Notice that the speaker asks why God seems far away, but still addresses him as “My God” and recalls that earlier generations trusted and were delivered.
Psalms 22:1, Psalms 22:4, Psalms 22:5
What images does the psalm use to describe enemies and suffering?
Look for the animal pictures and bodily descriptions rather than treating them as a new story outside the poem.
Psalms 22:12, Psalms 22:13, Psalms 22:14, Psalms 22:16
What reason is given for the call to praise Yahweh near the end?
The psalm itself answers this by saying God did not despise the afflicted and heard when he cried.
Psalms 22:23, Psalms 22:24
Make, think or respond
Psalm 22: The Psalm of the Cross: Words and images response sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A repeated word or image”, “Its verse reference”, “What it expresses”.
- Read Psalms 22:1–31. Use “The Psalm of the Cross” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Choose one image and add a short written response or a simple drawing. Explain how it connects with the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Psalm 22: The Psalm of the Cross connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use The Psalm of the Cross as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between The Psalm of the Cross and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Psalms 22:1–31. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 22
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
2 My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,
8 “He trusts in Yahweh. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”
9 But you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust while at my mother’s breasts.
10 I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb. You are my God since my mother bore me.
11 Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open their mouths wide against me, lions tearing prey and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me.
18 They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.
19 But don’t be far off, Yahweh. You are my help. Hurry to help me!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth! Yes, you have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the assembly, I will praise you.
23 You who fear Yahweh, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.
25 My praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him.
26 The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Yahweh who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever.
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
28 For the kingdom is Yahweh’s. He is the ruler over the nations.
29 All the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he who can’t keep his soul alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.
31 They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.