#15 - Kyle Thompson // Lament for the Innocent Sufferer

Summary

The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Episode #15 - Kyle Thompson: Lament for the Innocent Sufferer
Release Date: January 21, 2025

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Introduction to the Episode

In Episode #15 of The Daily Blade, hosts Pastor Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson delve into the profound themes of lament and innocent suffering as depicted in Psalm 22. This episode, titled "Lament for the Innocent Sufferer," explores the depths of David's conflicted emotions and draws striking parallels between his lamentations and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

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Exploring Psalm 22: David’s Conflicted Lament (00:20 - 02:50)

Kyle Thompson begins the discussion by immersing listeners in Psalm 22, highlighting its complex and seemingly contradictory emotions. He describes the psalm as "one of the more schizophrenic psalms" in the Old Testament, pointing out David's intense inner turmoil.

• David’s Distress:
  • Verses 2-3: "Oh my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer. And by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are wholly enthroned on the praises of Israel."
  • Verses 5-6: "To you they cried and were rescued. In you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man. Scorned by mankind and despised by the people."

Kyle reflects on David's feelings of insignificance and unjust suffering, noting, "I've been sad before, but I don't recall ever feeling like a worm." (02:30) He emphasizes David's perception of innocence, despite the biblical truth that no mortal is truly innocent.

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The Innocent Sufferer: Jesus as the Fulfillment (02:50 - 04:21)

Transitioning from David's lament, Kyle introduces the concept of the "innocent sufferer," identifying Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of this role. He references the ESV Study Bible commentary, which describes Psalm 22 as illustrating the "innocent sufferer par excellence."

• Parallels Between Psalm 22 and Matthew 27:
  • Psalm 22:1 & Matthew 27:46: Both feature the cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
  • Psalm 22:7 & Matthew 27:39: Descriptions of mockery and head-wagging.
  • Psalm 22:18 & Matthew 27:35: The casting of lots for garments.

Kyle remarks, "The parallels are incredibly moving," (03:45) illustrating how Psalm 22 prophetically mirrors the events of Jesus' crucifixion.

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From Suffering to Resurrection: The Pathway of Salvation (04:21 - End)

Kyle transitions to the resolution of lament through the resurrection, underscoring the belief in Jesus' victory over death and sin.

• Golgotha and Resurrection:

  • He recounts the events at Golgotha, emphasizing Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and the fulfillment of Psalm 22.
  • Matthew 28:6: "He is not here, for he has risen." (04:05)

• Salvation and Grace:

  • Kyle explains that Jesus' death was to pay a debt humanity couldn’t repay, offering righteousness through Him.
  • He calls listeners to "accept that free gift of grace and repent of our sins. If you have never done that, today is the day. If you have done that, today is the day you tell someone about it." (04:18)

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Key Takeaways and Insights

1. Understanding Lament:

   • Lament is a legitimate response to suffering, reflecting deep emotional and spiritual conflict.

2. Jesus as the Innocent Sufferer:

   • The life and death of Jesus exemplify the ultimate innocent suffering, fulfilling prophetic scriptures like Psalm 22.

3. Hope in Resurrection:

   • Despite the agonizing suffering depicted in Psalm 22 and experienced by Jesus, the resurrection offers hope and the promise of deliverance.

4. Call to Action:

   • Emphasizes the importance of embracing grace, repentance, and sharing the message of salvation with others.

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Conclusion

In this insightful episode, Kyle Thompson effectively bridges the ancient text of Psalm 22 with the New Testament narrative of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. By examining David's anguished cries and Jesus' fulfillment of these prophecies, listeners are encouraged to find solace and purpose in their faith, recognizing the profound connection between lament and ultimate redemption.

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Notable Quotes:

• "I've been sad before, but I don't recall ever feeling like a worm." – Kyle Thompson (02:30)
• "The parallels are incredibly moving." – Kyle Thompson (03:45)
• "If you have never done that, today is the day. If you have done that, today is the day you tell someone about it." – Kyle Thompson (04:18)

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For more insights and to equip yourself for the spiritual journey, join Pastor Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson at the 2025 Men's Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Secure your seat today at mensconference.com.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Daily Blade. The Word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

[B]

This week we're camping out in some Psalms of Lament. As with yesterday, we're going to spend some time with David this time in Psalm 22. This Psalm is one of the more schizophrenic psalms that you will see in all of the Old Testament. You can tell that David is incredibly conflicted the entire time that he's writing this down. Okay, so let's look at verses two and three. Oh, my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer. And by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are wholly enthroned on the praises of Israel. Now let's go to verses 5 and 6. To you they cried and were rescued. In you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man. Scorned by mankind and despised by the people. Now, guys, I've been sad before, but I don't recall ever feeling like a worm. Okay, so. But I. I digress. The point is that David can't stay on one line of thought because he is in such a muddled state of confusion. I'm sure part of the reason for that is because David sees himself as innocent. Now, as we know, no mortal man is innocent, but it does seem like David is suffering unjustly here. However, it is David's unjust suffering described in Psalm 22 that points to what the ESV study Bible commentary calls the innocent sufferer par excellence. And that's our perfect Savior, Jesus. Specifically, the Parallels between Psalm 22 and Matthew 27 are so stunning that many see Psalm 22 as a foretelling of the work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. Let's look at a few examples. Psalm 22, verse 1. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me from the words of my groaning? And then in Matthew 27:46, we see this. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, eli, Eli lama sabachthani. That is, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Psalm 22:7, all who see me mock me. They make mouths at me. They wag their heads. And then in Matthew 27, verse 39, and those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads. Psalm 22:18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. And then in Matthew 27:35 and when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. The parallels are incredibly moving, but they also point to something Psalm 22 can be summarized as a lamenting innocent sufferer that is waiting patiently for God to deliver them, to provide them a pathway out of torment. And as we see In Psalm 22, David is fervently asking for that and actively experiencing this delivery in a way so verses 19 through 21 but you, O Lord, do not be far off, O you, my help, come quickly to my aid. Deliver my soul from the sword, my my precious life, from the power of the dog. Save me from the mouth of the lion you have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen. But where does ultimate delivery come from? What is the source of salvation? How can one be truly rescued? Well, it starts at Golgotha, the place of the skull where Jesus was crucified, where he cried out in agony, where the onlookers wag their heads at him, where they cast lots for his garments, where he gave up his spirit and breathed his last. But luckily for all of us, that is just a bloody footnote in the history of Jesus. Because three days after he was placed in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb, it was revealed to all of humanity that the tomb was a borrowed one. Because, as we see in Matthew 28:6, he is not here, for he has risen. He was put to death to pay a debt that we could not repay and became sin on our behalf so that we could have the righteousness of God in Him. We just have to accept that free gift of grace and repent of our sins. If you have never done that, today is the day. If you have done that, today is the day you tell someone about it.

[A]

Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.