Why Did Jesus Say, "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?"

Matt 27:46-47 - About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"  NASU 

• God Doesn't Forsake Anyone 

Moses is about to die and there is going to be a change in leadership. He stands before the children of Israel and informs them how God is going with them and will protect them from the hostile nations they would encounter.
 
Moses says, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."  
Deut. 31:6 NASU
 
Moses is dead and God speaks to Joshua as the leader of the Israelites. He tells Joshua, "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." Joshua 1:5 NASU
 
God also told Jacob and Solomon He would be with them and He would not forsake them either. 

• Promise Renewed In The New Testament 

The writer of Hebrews is quoting from the Old Testament when he pens down these words, "…for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," so that we confidently say,
 
"THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.
WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"  Heb 13:5-6   NASU
 
Christians today have the same promise made to us about God and the promise is He will NOT Ever Desert or Forsake us.  

• What Was Jesus Saying? 

Now think about these scriptures for one minute. God has promised in the Old and New Testaments He will not forsake anyone. Yet, some would have us to believe Jesus who never sinned was on the cross dying and atoning for the sins of mankind was forsaken by God.
 
Here is my belief about what Jesus was saying on the cross.
 
First, this is an Old Test. quote and one must return to the original quote and study the context where it is used. Once you do this I believe the answer becomes clear. This quote comes from Psalm 22.
 
Jesus is hanging on the cross when He speaks these words. The only scriptures they had at this time was the Old Testament. The OT was not divided into chapters and verses. Therefore, Jesus couldn't say turn to Psalm 22 and you will find the answer.
 
The first entire Bible in which chapter and verse divisions were used was Robert Stephanus' edition of the Latin Vulgate (A.D. 1555).
 
When Jesus quotes the first words: "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?" 
He was telling His disciples to read the Psalm that begins with those words. When you read that Psalm the truth will be revealed:
 
Ps 22:3-5
Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. 
In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them. 
To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.
 
Ps 22:23-24
You who fear the LORD, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. 
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 for help, He heard.  NASU
 
In verses 3-5 the Psalmist is saying, God is holy, and the Israelite fathers trusted in God and were delivered. In verses 23-24 he is saying God has not hidden His face from this person who is suffering. In fact, this person cries out for help and God heard His cry.
 
This Psalm is considered a Messianic one which means it is about the Messiah and I would agree. Therefore, Jesus is NOT saying God has forsaken Him, but the exact opposite. God had heard His cry for help and helped Him. 
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• Have You Ever Felt Forsaken? 

You and I may go through times when we feel like God has forsaken us, but our feelings are wrong as they have been before. God doesn't forsake us. God keeps His word and helps His children.
 
Think On This:
 
When we do what we can, God will do what we can't.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word