From the Cross to the Crown

Introduction

Psalm 22 begins in darkness but ends in glorious light. The cry of forsakenness gives way to the song of victory. What begins with “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1) ends with the assurance, “He hath done this” (Psalm 22:31). This final section (vv. 22–31) looks beyond the cross to the resurrection, the proclamation of God’s name, the gathering of the faithful, and the universal worship of all nations. The sufferer who was mocked, pierced, and surrounded by enemies is now vindicated. Through Him, generations yet unborn will hear and believe. This psalm that once sounded like defeat now resounds with triumph.

The Proclamation of His Name (vv. 22–24)

The turning point of Psalm 22 begins with praise: “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee” (v. 22). This is fulfilled in Jesus after His resurrection (Hebrews 2:11–12). The One forsaken now leads His people in worship. His suffering brought salvation, and now He proclaims the Father’s name to those redeemed by His blood.

Verse 24 is a promise worth lingering over: “For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.” The Father did not abandon His Servant forever. Sin brought separation, but the cry was heard. The resurrection proved it. The lament of forsakenness turned into the shout of deliverance.

This verse reaches beyond Christ to all who call upon God. No matter how desperate the situation, when we cry out sincerely, God hears. The thief on the cross had lived a wasted life and was condemned by men, yet in his dying hour he looked to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Jesus answered with mercy: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (v. 43). His cry was heard.

King Manasseh is another example. He rebuilt the high places, worshiped idols, defiled the temple, and even offered his own children in sacrifice (2 Chronicles 33:3–6). God brought judgment, and he was taken captive to Babylon. Yet when he humbled himself and cried out, Scripture says, “He was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God” (2 Chronicles 33:13). Even after the worst sins, God extended mercy when he cried out.

Psalm 22:24 assures us that God does not turn away from the cry of the broken and repentant. If He raised His Son, if He heard the thief in his final hour, if He restored Manasseh after his rebellion, He will hear us when we cry to Him in faith.

The Praise of the Congregation (vv. 25–26)

From Christ’s lips praise flows to the congregation: “My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him” (v. 25). The church, the body of Christ, is the fulfillment of this prophetic picture. Those who once mocked Him are replaced by those who fear Him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied (v. 26), a foreshadowing of the spiritual feast in Christ (Matthew 5:6). In Him, the poor find abundance, and those who seek Him praise the Lord.

The Worship of the Nations (vv. 27–29)

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee” (v. 27). The gospel is for all. What began in Jerusalem spread to Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). At Pentecost, people from every nation heard the mighty works of God (Acts 2:5–11). Today, the fulfillment continues as the nations turn to Christ.

“The kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations” (v. 28). The One who hung in weakness now reigns in power. The crucified is the crowned. Even those of wealth and power bow before Him (v. 29). Death cannot silence this worship; those who go down to the dust will bow before Him. “Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10–11).

The Faith of Future Generations (vv. 30–31)

“A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation” (v. 30). The church is that seed, born of the travail of His soul (Isaiah 53:11). The faithful of every age serve Him, bearing witness to His righteousness.

“They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this” (v. 31). Each new generation hears the message: He has finished it. This echoes Jesus’ cry, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The work of redemption was completed. The cross was not the end—it was the triumph.

From the Cross to the Crown: The Triumph of Psalm 22 — Sermon Outline

Introduction: Psalm 22 moves from despair to triumph; fulfilled in Jesus: from forsakenness to universal praise; purpose: to show how Christ’s suffering led to worldwide salvation.

I. The Proclamation of His Name (vv. 22–24)

• Declaring God’s name to the brethren (v. 22; Hebrews 2:11–12)
• God heard the afflicted One (v. 24)
• Resurrection as proof of answered prayer
• God hears the repentant who cry out: the thief (Luke 23:42–43)
• God hears the repentant who cry out: Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:13)

II. The Praise of the Congregation (vv. 25–26)

• Praise in the great assembly (v. 25)
• The meek shall eat and be satisfied (v. 26; Matthew 5:6)
• The faithful rejoice in His provision

III. The Worship of the Nations (vv. 27–29)

• All nations turn to the Lord (v. 27; Acts 1:8; 2:5–11)
• The kingdom belongs to the Lord (v. 28)
• Both rich and poor, living and dead, bow before Him (v. 29; Philippians 2:10–11)

IV. The Faith of Future Generations (vv. 30–31)

• A seed shall serve Him (v. 30; Isaiah 53:11)
• His righteousness declared to generations yet unborn (v. 31)
• The final word: “He hath done this” (John 19:30)

Call to Action

Psalm 22 ends in victory. The cross was not defeat; it was triumph. The cry of abandonment gave way to the shout of completion. Christ now proclaims God’s name, gathers His people, and reigns among the nations. The story continues as each new generation hears and believes. Will you be part of that seed who serves Him? Will you pass on the message that He has done this? Believe the gospel, obey His commands, and live in the triumph of the risen Lord.

Key Takeaways

• The forsaken One became the leader of worship (Psalm 22:22; Hebrews 2:11–12)
• God heard His cry and raised Him (Psalm 22:24; Acts 2:32)
• The thief cried out and was heard (Luke 23:42–43)
• Manasseh cried out and was heard (2 Chronicles 33:13)
• The meek find satisfaction in Him (Psalm 22:26; Matthew 5:6)
• All nations are called to worship Christ (Psalm 22:27–28; Acts 1:8)
• Every knee shall bow before Him (Psalm 22:29; Philippians 2:10–11)
• Future generations will declare His righteousness (Psalm 22:30–31)
• The cross ended with the cry of victory: “It is finished” (John 19:30)

Scripture Reference List

Psalm 22:22–31 — The triumph after suffering
Matthew 27:46 — Jesus fulfills the cry of verse 1
Hebrews 2:11–12 — Applied to Jesus and His brethren
Luke 23:42–43 — The thief’s cry and Jesus’ mercy
2 Chronicles 33:13 — Manasseh’s repentance and restoration
Acts 2:5–11; 2:32 — Nations hear the gospel; Christ raised from the dead
Matthew 5:6 — The meek satisfied in Christ
Isaiah 53:11 — A seed born of His travail
John 19:30 — “It is finished” fulfilled in Christ
Philippians 2:10–11 — Every knee shall bow

Conclusion to the Psalm 22 Series

Psalm 22 takes us on a journey like no other in Scripture. It begins with the cry of forsakenness and ends with the shout of triumph. We heard David’s lament and saw its fulfillment in Christ’s suffering on the cross. We walked with the Lord through the mockery, the nails, and the agony of separation. We listened to the prayer for deliverance and then watched as that prayer was answered in resurrection, proclamation, and worldwide praise. From the cross to the crown, this psalm declares the gospel in prophetic detail.

Through these sermons we have learned that sin separates, but God hears the cries of the afflicted. We saw that the fate of humanity rested on the obedience of Christ, who endured the curse so that we could be redeemed. We witnessed how God raised His Son and exalted Him as Lord of all nations. And we looked forward to the future, where a seed shall continue to serve Him and generations yet unborn will hear of His righteousness.

The message of Psalm 22 is clear: God’s plan of redemption has been accomplished. What began with “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” ends with “He hath done this.” The cross was not the end, but the beginning of victory. The crown follows the suffering. For all who believe, obey, and follow Christ, the psalm that began in darkness now fills the world with light.