Psalm 22 – Part 4- The Sword and the Horn

Psalm 22, Part IV

But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. (Psalm 22:19)      

Be not far from me, here is another appeal to God the Father. The loneliness of the cross is weighing heavy upon the Lord Jesus Christ, what is left of His strength is fading quickly. So He appeals for strength from Jehovah, for Jehovah is His strength. Time is growing short, He hastes in His appeal for help.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)

Isaiah draws us to view the Father’s side of His plan of redemption. All the counsels of God must be fulfilled in the death of His Son. He has put Him to grief, as the earthly suffering were recorded, line upon line, precept upon precept. So too, the heavenly was recorded also when God the Father made an offering of His soul for sin, not just one sin, or a thousand sins, but sin itself.  Not only the act of sin, but sin itself must be put out of the way and sin nailed to the cross.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14)

All these verses explain our need, they also show the cause of the judgment for our sin. This judgment fell on Christ. I am overwhelmed, it is only by the Spirit of God that I can comprehend this marvelous love.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. (Psalm 22:20)

Verse 20 continues the appeal from the Son to the Father. Deliver my soul from the sword — the sword of the Lord can be deliverance as with Gideon. And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. (Judges 7:20) Or it can be as a sword of judgment against David’s sin. And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. (1 Chronicles 21:16)

The two-edged sword of the Lord, one edge for deliverance, and the other edge for judgment. Deliverance on our part, God stayed the angels’ hand. The sword did not break on us, but on Christ. Deliver my soul, and yet His soul was made an offering for sin. He saw the travail of His soul.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. (Psalm 49:15)

Oh, wonders of wonders — His name is Wonderful. The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The divine sword of judgment broke in full force on God’s beloved Son. Everything that was against us, even the law and commandments were put out of the way, for we had failed miserably to keep them. Remember, if one is going to live according to the law, one must keep all the commandments; for is one is broken, then they all have been broken; and no man can keep alive his own soul.

One of the great aspects of our salvation is seeing our guilt and our unrighteousness in comparison with a Holy and Righteous God, and although we are undeserving, He has poured forth His mercy and grace; yet He loved us unto death, even the death of the cross. ‘My darling, from the power of the dogs’— surrounded by evil — Christ once again refers to the Gentile world. They were barking like a pack of wild dogs.

Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? (Acts 4:25)

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. (Acts 4:26)

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (Acts 4:27)

Rome had set the decree on the cross, a sign of contempt when Pilate had placed a sign over His head that read, “THIS IS JESUS KING OF THE JEWS .” The Word of God records in Matthew 27:37 that this title was an accusation against Him. He was being condemned in the eyes of the world for being King of the Jews; and the Jews had condemned Him because He had said that He was the Son of God. The Jewish leaders were furious with Pilate for this sign. They wanted Pilate to change it to read that ‘he said he was king of the Jews.’ Pilate replied to their request, “what I have written, I have written.” But what was the depth of this accusation? Pilate took upon himself and spoke in his condemnation and sentence for the whole Roman Empire. The accusation was written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. All the peoples of the world were brought into this transaction of evil. God the Holy Spirit made sure that this was recorded in all four gospels. Remember that 4 is the number of the world, and of they that dwell therein. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. (Psalm 24:2) So all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. This accusation condemns the entire world for all were under sin, and all needed a Savior.

Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. (Psalm 22:21)

Save me from the lion’s mouth — The devil is compared to a vicious and devouring lion to the saint; how much more to Christ on the cross? Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:9) But thanks be to God, for His unspeakable and merciful gift in Jesus Christ.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14)

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24)

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (1 Corinthians 15:25)

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ( 1 Corinthians 25:26)

For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. (1 Corinthians 15:27)

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28)

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21)

Thus, we see the depth of His love and His greatness in these verses. In Hebrews 2:9 He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, and in that death He is crowned with glory and honor. He has brought forth the height and depth of God’s love. He tasted death for every man; and thereby, the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14) This verse informs us that the Lord Jesus has destroyed the one who had the power of death, that is the devil. We may say that He has pulled his teeth. Although, we still die in the flesh, death has no power over us; and one day He will destroy this last enemy called ‘death.’ After the millennial kingdom, it is recorded that He destroys death and creates a new heaven and a new earth, wherein righteous will dwell. Then all things will be delivered up to God, and God will be all in all.

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28)

For thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorn(s). The last part of verse 21 of Psalm 22 sounds mystic, but with our world and the disappearing species, I would think that God’s Word is more accurate than man’s discoveries. In His Word, and by His Word, we grow in grace. One must take God at His Word, and have complete faith in His Word. I would think that this horn of the unicorn was an instrument that made a certain sound attached to some spiritual ordinance or sacrifice. They blew the trumpet for certain occasions as shown in Numbers 10. There is another use for the horn and this is more consistent throughout Scripture. King Saul was anointed with oil out of a vial. Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? (1 Samuel 10:1) Saul was a king after the flesh, but now David was anointed with oil out of a horn. David was a man after the Spirit, and the flesh in Saul was against David, the Spirit. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. (Galatians 4:29) The Lord of glory was anointed before His sufferings on the cross, then as the King of glory He was anointed with the oil of gladness.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Hebrews 1:9)

But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. (Psalm 92:10)

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; (Luke 1:69)

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (Acts 4:27)

These verses tell the divine story, that there is a divine horn which the horn of the unicorn is a type of Christ; a single horn of gladness, a horn of salvation, and a horn of mercy — thou hast hear me from the horn of the unicorn(s).

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:22)

Our soul travels from the scene at the cross to the scene of resurrection glory. I will declare thy name unto my brethren — Christ stands in the midst of the congregation, all those who are bought with His blood are gathered around Him throughout the complete Church age. It is Christ by His Spirit who gathers them and He leads them in praise. This is the position that His children take, although children, yet sons; though sons, yet brethren. God is mysterious in all His ways. We in turn offer up our praise and worship to Him, which is the fruit of our lips. Verse 22 is quoted in Hebrews 2:12 and is in a cluster of verses that takes us back to the scene of Psalm 22. Although we have passed on from the cross, Hebrews 2 reminds us of the work of Christ on the cross. The transaction here between God the Father and God the Son in verse 13 of Hebrews 2, it is the children which God has given Him. As He is in our midst, we are the prize that He has been given. To Him we are more valuable than all the jewels of earth and eternity, we are precious in His sight, as He is precious in our sight. A man standing in the midst of the congregation singing praise unto God, and yet, very God. Is this not another mystery, beloved? It will be all shown to us in the latter days when we are all gathered around His throne, we will see Him as He is, and all the mysteries will be gone forever. Here in verse 22 of Psalm 22, the sufferings are past, resurrection day is here, I will sing praise unto thee. As verse 22 starts resurrection day, He is not here but risen; 2 angels (the number of witness) announce this wonder. Verse 22 is the number of witness twice to a dying world for 2×2=4. God uses all things, even numbers for His glory. We pass from suffering in verse 21 to resurrection glory in verse 22. He is not here, but risen. This is the end of Part IV, Part V to follow.

© Copyright 2015, Michael Haigh

This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)