提要
詩篇第廿一篇與第廿篇有密切的關係，是一個自然的續篇。它是一篇感謝上帝的詩篇，說明上帝如何回應他們求勝的禱告（詩篇廿篇）。上帝應驗了他們的願望，拯救了他們的君王（20：9），也賜給他們各樣的福氣──這一切都是出於上帝的憐憫及君王的信靠之心（20：3~8）。這篇詩篇就像廿二篇一樣，顯然都是有關彌賽亞的詩篇。祇有主耶穌才能「有洪福直到永遠」、以及「日子長久直到永遠」（21：4、6）。這篇詩文繼續以預言的方式宣稱：凡是恨惡上帝及陰謀反抗祂和祂子民的人都會承受祂強烈的憤怒，「火要把他們燒盡了」（參看帖後1：7~8；啟20：14~15）。不過，主的會眾永遠地頌讚祂（21：13）。
從詩篇廿二篇第一節來看，顯然，這是一篇有關彌賽亞的預言。在所有的詩篇中，這一篇以最明顯的方式，說明彌賽亞在十字架的受苦（還有第六九篇）。那些看不出這一點的人乃是因為他們的眼睛被遮蔽。毫無疑問地，本詩篇中的某些經驗是大衛本人經歷過的，但是其餘大部份都不可能是大衛的實際經驗（22：14~18）。聖靈默示大衛以先知的身份寫下這些話。新約作者與耶穌本人都認為這是有關彌賽亞的詩篇，而且經常引用，表明已在耶穌的身上應驗。耶穌在十字架上曾呼喊了本篇起首的第一個問句，也是信徒們非常熟悉的一句話（22：1上；太27：46）。誠然，當那無罪的替我們成為罪時，（參林後5：21），上帝沒有別的選擇，祇有捨棄祂，不留意祂；不過，上帝依然愛祂，垂聽祂，並不忘記祂（22：24）。
人們對耶穌的態度也應驗了預言：祂「被百姓藐視」（22：6；太27：39；可15：29）、受人們的「嗤笑」（路23：35）。甚至連那些不信的祭司和文士的話也應驗了聖經的預言：「他把自己交託耶和華，耶和華可以救他吧！」（22：8；太27：43）。
父上帝與耶穌之間有親密的關係（22：9~10），後者自出母胎就被交在上帝的手裡，祂在母親懷裡就倚靠上帝。祂被釘十字架時，與上帝別離所感到的痛苦更甚於肉體上的折磨，而且這個時候沒有一個人可以幫助祂（22：11）；當強大又有影響力的祭司、法利賽人、文士，如饑餓的公牛圍繞著祂，想處死祂，又「抓撕吼叫」像他們父的撒但，想殺死祂時，所有的人都逃離祂（22：12~13）。然後，耶穌被交給羅馬人；就在這個時候，祂不再有一點力氣，祂的口因飢渴過度而枯乾（22：14~15；約19：28）。羅馬人（犬類圍著我，22：16）扎了祂的手與腳（22：16）、把祂掛在十字架上。「他們分我的外衣，為我的裡衣拈鬮」（22：18）。這個預言的應驗顯然是指羅馬兵丁的行為，因此，每一部福音書的作者都特別指出，這個預言在耶穌釘十字架時應驗了（太27：35；可15：24；路23：34；約19：24）。
一旦被釘十字架和救贖成就時，上帝就回答了耶穌的求救呼喊（22：11~21）。耶穌戰勝了撒但的邪惡計劃（參看21：11），也勝過了罪惡和死亡。這完美的祭是蒙上帝悅納的，祂的代贖是有效又完美的。「因為祂沒有藐視憎惡受苦的人，也沒有向他掩面，那受苦之人呼籲的時候，祂就垂聽」（22：24）。復活的主耶穌現在以勝利姿態歌頌讚美上帝，祂要宣揚祂的名，不祇是向猶太人（22：22~23），而是要向全世界的人；許多人將要記念耶穌以慈愛在十字架為他們獻的祭，且要歸順耶和華（22：27）！復活的彌賽亞現在已經看到祂受苦的結果：無數的外邦人、富人、窮人都敬拜上帝，以及那些飢渴慕義的人「必吃得飽足」（22：26、29上）。耶穌基督已完成的救贖聖工將要充滿他們。所有的人都要向這位全地的君王下拜，包括那些已經死去的人（22：29下；比較腓2：10~11）。
如今耶穌救贖的福音已經傳向四方，每一代的人都受到它的益處。主在過去、現在、未來都將一直有後裔事奉祂（22：30），所謂後裔就是指忠信的餘民要把耶穌所做的事傳給每一代的人。福音是絕不會過時，也不會消失的。
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Overview
Psalm 21 is closely linked with Psalm 20 and serves as a natural sequel. It is a psalm of thanksgiving to God for answering their prayer for victory over the enemy (Psalm 20). God did fulfill their desire and save the king (20:9), as well as granting him many blessings — all because of the mercy of God and the king's trust in Him (20:3-8). This psalm, like Psalm 22, is clearly Messianic. Only the Lord Jesus can be "blessed forever", and also be blessed with "length of days forever and ever" (21:4, 6). The passage continues to prophetically declare that all those who hate God and have plotted evil against Him and His people will experience His fiery wrath: "the fire shall devour them" (see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Revelation 20:14-15). The congregation of the Lord, however, will forever sing His praises (21:13).
From the first verse of Psalm 22, it is clearly evident that this is a Messianic prophecy. It is the most explicit of all psalms that deal with the suffering of the Messiah at the time of His crucifixion (also Psalm 69). Those who do not see this have a veil over their eyes. No doubt some of the experiences within the psalm relate to David personally, but most of them could not possibly have been actual experiences of David (e.g. 22:14-18). The Holy Spirit inspired David to prophetically write these words. The New Testament authors and Jesus Himself understood this psalm as Messianic, and frequently quoted it as being fulfilled in Jesus. Upon the cross, Jesus uttered the exact words of the first question which are so familiar to believers (22:la; Matthew 27:46). Indeed, when He who knew no sin became sin for us (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21), God had no choice but to forsake Him and not heed Him; however, God still loved Him, heard Him, and did not forget Him (22:24).
The attitude of the people toward Jesus fulfilled the prophecy: He was "despised of the people" (22:6; Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29) and put to scorn (Luke 23:35). Even the words of the unbelieving priests and scribes fulfilled this Scripture by applying its words to Jesus: "He trusted in God, let Him rescue Him" (22:8; Matthew 27:43).
We learn of the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son (22:9-10), who had been cast upon God from birth, and who trusted God while yet a nursing child. The anguish caused by the separation from God at the time of the crucifixion, then, was greater than the physical torture, and there was no one to help Him (22:11); all had fled from Him, as the strong and influential priests, pharisees, scribes, and ravenous crowd ("bulls") encircled Him and sought His destruction, "raging and roaring" like their father Satan, the lion, seeking to destroy Him (22:12-13). Then Jesus was handed over to the Romans, and by this time He no longer had any strength and His mouth was parched from thirst (22:14-15; John 19:28). The Romans ("dogs have surrounded Me", 22:16) pierced His hands and feet (22:16) to hang him upon the cross. "They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots" (22:18). The fulfilment of this prophecy clearly refers to the conduct of the Roman soldiers, so much so that each of the four gospel writers specifically notes its fulfilment at the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24).
Once the crucifixion and atonement were completed, God answered Jesus' cry for salvation (22:11-21). Jesus was victorious over the evil schemes of Satan (see 21:11), as well as over sin and the grave. The Perfect Sacrifice was acceptable, and His vicarious atonement was effectual and complete, "for He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard" (22:24). The risen Lord Jesus now victoriously sings praises to God and He will declare His Name, not only to the Jews (22:22-23) but to the whole world who shall remember the crucifixion, that loving sacifice Jesus made for them, and they shall turn to the Lord (22:27)! The risen Messiah now envisions the results of His suffering: many Gentiles, rich and poor alike, all worshipping God, and all those who were hungry for spiritual sustenance "shall eat and be satisfied" (22:26, 29a). The finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ shall fill them. All will bow down to the Great King of the earth, including those who have died (22:29b; cf. Philip-pians 2:10-11).
The good news of Jesus' redemption has been preached and experienced throughout every generation. The Lord has always and will always have a posterity to serve Him (22:30) — a faithful remnant who will proclaim the message of what Jesus has done to each successive generation. The good news (gospel) will never grow old and die.
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