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Psalm 22:1

For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

1For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
2My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent.
3But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.
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Psalm 22:2 →
Notice

The repeated “My God” makes the question of abandonment stark: David speaks to the God whose help seems far beyond his groaning.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What would you want to say to God between “My God” and “why” today?

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What help, if any, seems far away as you read David’s question?

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What do you notice about David addressing God even while asking why he has been forsaken?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Matthew 27:46About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”Matthew records Jesus crying out the same opening question, addressing God with David’s words of abandonment.
Mark 15:34At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken …Mark records Jesus speaking this psalm’s opening question with a loud voice at the ninth hour.
Hebrews 5:7He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been …Both passages describe anguished prayer to God: David groans for help, and Jesus offers petitions with strong crying and tears.
Psalm 22:16For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.Later in the same psalm, the cry for distant help includes surrounding evildoers and pierced hands and feet.
Psalm 10:1Why do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?Both prayers ask why God seems far away when the speaker needs help in trouble.
Job 3:24For my sighing comes before I eat. My groanings are poured out like water.David speaks of groaning while seeking God’s help; Job describes groanings pouring out like water.
Luke 24:44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms …Jesus names the psalms among writings concerning him, though Luke’s statement does not identify this particular psalm.
Psalm 43:1–5Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.Both speakers address God in distress and seek his help; Psalm 43 names deceitful and wicked people as the threat.
Psalm 32:3When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.Groaning marks suffering in both passages; Psalm 22 asks about God’s distance, while Psalm 32 describes wasting bones during silence.
Hebrews 13:5Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”The question about being forsaken in Psalm 22 contrasts with God’s promise in Hebrews never to leave or forsake.
1 Samuel 12:22For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.David asks why God has forsaken him; Samuel declares that the LORD will not forsake his people for his name’s sake.
Isaiah 46:13I bring my righteousness near. It is not far off, and my salvation will not wait. I will grant salvation to Zion, my glory to Israel.David asks why help is far away; Isaiah declares that God brings righteousness near and salvation will not wait.
Where this verse fits

Feeling distant from God. grief. doubt.

What the Bible says about doubt →What the Bible says about grief →What the Bible says about doubt →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read Psalm 22:1 aloud to God before bed tonight

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Encouragement

Your prayer need not resolve every question before reaching God. David addresses him as “My God” while asking why help is so far away.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 22:1. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 22 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).