"Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help."
Psalm 22:11
Our verse for today comes from a Messianic Psalm (about the Messiah), written by David. Let me encourage you to read the entire psalm and see for yourself how many of the statements in this psalm are a match to Jesus’ life, passion, and suffering on the Cross.
What can we learn about ourselves from His suffering?
“Be not far from me;”
The Lord needed His Father close to Him while he was on the cross. There are at least two reasons for His plea in this text. His Father turned His back on His Son while He took our sin on Himself (“be not far from me”). And secondly, there was “no one to help” Him (“there is none to help”).
“Be not far from me;” “Lord, do not withdraw yourself from me, do not leave me or forsake me!”
“Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none,” (Psalm 69:20).
Have you experienced times in your life when you felt this way? Even if you do, you need to remember that Jesus never “leaves or forsakes” His children.
“A present God, is a present blessing,”1 (Clarke).
Even when Jesus carried our sin and was forsaken of His Father, He never forsook His Father.
“For trouble is near;”
The Word teaches us that Jesus was in deep sorrow in the garden on the way to the Cross. And the nagging knowledge that death was coming for Him must have stirred in Jesus’ humanity. He could say “trouble is near.” Surely He has faced every kind of temptation that we do, and yet He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).
“We always need the Divine help; but more especially when troubles and trials are at hand.”2 (Clarke)
“For there is none to help.”
“God seems far away; but trouble is near – and there is none to help, so You must help me, God!”3 (Guzik).
“There were those who would have helped, but they could not; there were those who could have helped, but they would not. His friends that stood around the cross were unable to aid him; his foes were unwilling to do it; and he was left to suffer unhelped,”4 (Barnes).
Bearing our sin on the cross, Jesus had no one to help Him. He was all alone. As a child of God, you will never be in a spot where no one can help you. Aren’t you glad that our God is always there for us?! He is a “very present help in trouble!” (Psalm 46:1).
1. Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
2. Clarke, ibid.
3. Guzik, David, David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
4. Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.