My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my
groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
“Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”
Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
Deliver my soul from the sword,
my life from the power of the dog!
Save me from the mouth of the lion!
Questions
1. These psalms come from the Revised Common Lectionary. This is a calendar of scripture for Sundays and special days in the liturgical year. Many denominations use this resource. Think of all the other believers who are reading and praying the same psalm. Pray that the spirit connects you to this great cloud of witnesses.
2. How do this week’s psalms pair with the narrative of Jesus’ final days on earth? Look for similar language and imagery between the psalm and the Gospels’ story.
3. Try to identify the type of psalm that the lectionary has selected.
4. Each day, reflect on something you have learned during Lent. How has your faith, knowledge of God, or person been transformed from reading the psalms or observing the season of Lent?
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