FOUNDATION

Hang On To Your Life

William Blake, 1800 When I was in my second year at the University of Michigan, fall 1971 to spring 1972, there was a song I remember hearing many times. It was “Hang On To Your Life” by The Guess Who. Except for the clarion call to “hang on to your life,” I really don't remember the lyrics. Along with the thump-de-dump drum and bass line, the song's most striking feature, for me at least, was the end. When the music stopped, there was a speaker quoting Psalm 22:13-15.

I had been vaguely aware of Psalm 22 before, but this song brought it to the forefront of my mind. I read it carefully for the first time. And although I may not have understood some parts of it (a situation that continues to the present), there was enough that was obvious. And not only was the meaning obvious, but so was the fact that the words were special, supernatural. And a foundation was laid for me to believe God.

Here is Psalm 22 in full, along with some comments.

The Crucifixion Psalm
Psa 22:1-5 : 1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.	Jesus spoke the first words of this Psalm when he was on the cross (see Matthew 27:46). A theologian might go into elaborate theories on what being forsaken by God actually means, but the simple fact is that, by quoting it, Jesus pointed to this Psalm as the “Crucifixion Psalm.” Some believe he may have quoted the entire Psalm while on the cross.
Psa 22:6-8 : 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.	He was rejected by the people he came to. He was mocked by the religious leaders of his time in just this way (see Matthew 27:39-43).
Psa 22:9-12 : 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.	Even most of his friends and followers abandoned him (see Matthew 26:56).
Psa 22:13-15 : 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.	These were the verses quoted at the end of “Hang on to Your Life.” With bones pulled out of joint and a heart melting like wax, this is the physical description of crucifixion. The imagery is striking: a water metaphor used to describe the suffering and then the lack of water being part of the suffering (see John 19:28).
Psa 22:16-18 : 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.	Pierced hands and feet are clear crucifixion images, along with one's bones being “told” (counted exactly) and being stared at. He was naked, and his clothes were divided up and gambled over (see John 19:23-24).
Psa 22:19-21 : 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.	In verse 2, he couldn't be heard by God, but now he can be heard. His “darling” (his “only one,” his life) will be delivered (see Luke 23:46).
Psa 22:22-28 : 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24 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. 25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.	The focus of first half of the Psalm, verses 1 to 21, is on the suffering Messiah, while the focus of the second half, verses 22 to 31, is on the resurrected and glorified Messiah. Verse 22 is quoted in the New Testament (see Hebrews 2:10-12).
Psa 22:29-31 : 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.	Ultimately “none can keep alive his own soul” (or “hang on to their life”). And all will be resurrected and bow down before the Lord, either willingly or unwillingly. “He hath done this” can be translated “it is finished” (see John 19:30).

Additional LINKS
prev top

Listen to “Hang on to Your Life” on YouTube

Listen to “Psalm 22” with Igor Stravinsky