Our suffering Savior has been giving me solace and strength in my own suffering by studying the Psalms as He might have sung them.
Because…He did sing them in His earthly life.
I wonder if He was comforted and strengthened in knowing that He was fulfilling prophecy as He hung on the cross in my place. Taking the punishment my sin deserves. Enabled to resist the temptation to jump off, to give up, to stop loving me.
Jesus, priceless treasure,
source of purest pleasure,
truest Friend to me:
ah, how long in anguish
shall my spirit languish,
yearning, Lord, for thee?
(“Jesus, Priceless Treasure,” Franck, J., 1653)
Our suffering Savior’s solace and strength amid His scary, brutal suffering for my sin
Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
They open their jaws against me
like lions that roar and maul.
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are disjointed.
My heart is like wax;
it melts away within me (Ps. 22:12-14 BSB).
Thine I am, O spotless Lamb!
I will suffer naught to hide thee,
naught I ask beside thee.
Our suffering Savior’s solace and strength in knowing prophecy was fulfilled by every detail of His suffering
After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty” (Jn. 19:28 BSB).
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death (Ps. 22:15 BSB).
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” (Mt. 27:39-40 BSB).
But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs (Jn. 19:33 BSB).
I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me (Ps. 22:17 BSB).
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots (Mt. 27:35 BSB).
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing (Ps. 22:18 BSB).
In thine arms I rest me;
foes who would molest me
cannot reach me here.
Though the earth be shaking,
ev’ry heart be quaking,
Jesus calms my fear.
Lightnings flash and thunders crash;
yet, though sin and hell assail me,
Jesus will not fail me.
Our suffering Savior’s crying songs to our Father in His scary, painful, undeserved suffering
But You, O Lord, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs (Ps. 22:19-20 BSB).
Satan, I defy thee;
death, I now decry thee;
fear, I bid thee cease.
World, thou shalt not harm me
nor thy threats alarm me
while I sing of peace.
God’s great pow’r guards ev’ry hour;
earth and all its depths adore him,
silent bow before him.
Our solace and strength as we suffer, in knowing Christ fulfilled prophecy!
Hence, all fear and sadness!
For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in.
Those who love the Father,
Though the storms may gather,
Still have peace within.
Save me from the mouth of the lion; at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me! (Ps. 22:21 BSB)
Yea, whate’er I here must bear,
thou art still my purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless treasure.
Jesus, priceless treasure, in our own suffering
Sister in Christ, I’ve had many years when all I can do is come to Jesus, praise Him for His suffering in my place, and find comforting solace and strength to keep going in the scary and painful…through His songs. Sometimes suffering makes it difficult to read God’s Word to us or even think. It’s then that I need His Scriptural songs running through my thoughts, just as Jesus did.
I make weekly playlist gifts for these times. If it would strengthen and comfort you to sing gospel truths in praise to our suffering Savior, our priceless treasure, sign up here, and they will come to your email to also help you keep going.
To read more of Lauri’s writing, you can use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, or Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character as We Suffer, or Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering. In the Valleys of God’s Love is written for children aged 3-8, a perfect read for grandparents, parents, and children to share together, preparing them for suffering to come.
For Scripture devotionals, calming hymns, and encouragement from Lauri, click here for YouTube channel
