Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 22:24
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.
24. For he hath not despised as men do ( Psa 22:6) nor abhorred as something loathsome and abominable (Isa 49:7, though the word here is even stronger) the affliction of the afflicted. Cp. Psa 69:33. The ‘servant of Jehovah’ (Isa 53:4; Isa 53:7) and Zion’s future king (Zec 9:9) are both described as ‘afflicted.’ See note on Psa 9:12.
hid his face ] In anger (Psa 10:11, Psa 13:1); or abhorrence (Isa 53:3, R.V.).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted – This expresses the belief that his prayer had been heard. The fact that he had been thus heard is here assigned to be the ground or reason for the exhortation in the previous verse, addressed to all the pious. The Lord had heard his prayer, and this was a reason why others should also confide in the Lord, and feel assured that he would likewise hear their prayers.
Neither hath he hid his face from him – That is, permanently, constantly, finally, completely. He has not wholly abandoned me, but though he seemed to forsake me, it was for a time only; and his friendship has not been ultimately and forever withdrawn. It was indeed the foundation of all the petitions in this psalm that the Lord had hid his face from the sufferer Psa 22:1; but, from this verse, it seems that it was only for a time. That which he passed through was a temporary darkness, succeeded by the clear manifestations of the divine favor. The Lord heard his prayer; the Lord showed that he had not utterly forsaken him.
But when he cried unto him, he heard – Showing that now he had the evidence and the assurance that his prayer had been heard. As applicable to the Redeemer on the cross, this means that though the darkness seemed to continue until death, yet it was not an utter forsaking. His prayer was heard; his work was accepted; the great object for which he came into the world would be accomplished; he himself would rise triumphantly from his sufferings; and the cause which he came to establish, and for which he died, would finally prevail in the world. Compare Heb 5:7-8; Joh 11:42; Isa 53:11-12.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. For he hath not despised] It is his property to help and save the poor and the humble; and he rejects not the sighings of a contrite heart. Perhaps it may mean, Though ye have despised me in my humiliation, yet God has graciously received me in the character of a sufferer on account of sin; as by that humiliation unto death the great atonement was made for the sin of the world.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He hath not despised: I was despised by the people, Psa 22:6, but not by God.
Nor abhorred, i.e. he did not turn away his face from it, as men do from things which they abhor, but looked upon it with compassion.
Neither hath he hid his face from him, to wit, for ever; for he did so for a time; but now, saith he, he hath lift up upon me the light of his countenance.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted,…. That is, Christ, who was afflicted by men, both by their tongues, and by their hands; by devils, by the temptations of Satan for Christ suffered being tempted, though he was not overcome; and by his attacks upon him, both in the garden and on the cross; and by the Lord himself, Jehovah his Father, who laid on him the iniquity and chastisement of his people, bruised him, and put him to grief; awoke the sword of justice against him, and spared him not: his afflictions were many, both in body and soul; in body, being scourged, buffeted, bruised, pierced, racked, and tortured on the cross; in soul, being made exceeding sorrowful, and an offering for sin; sustaining his Father’s wrath, and seeking and enduring affliction by the rod of it; see Isa 53:4; now, though his afflictions and sufferings were despised by men, and he was despised and abhorred on account of them; yet not by his Father, he took pleasure in them, and in him as suffering for his people; not simply considered, as if he delighted in his sufferings as such, but as they were agreeable to his counsel and covenant, and brought about the salvation of his chosen ones: he accepted them in the room and stead of his people; the sacrifice of Christ was of a sweet smelling savour to him; he was well pleased with his righteousness, his law being magnified and made honourable by it; and his death was precious in his sight, being the propitiation for the sins of his people; so far was he from despising and abhorring the afflictions of his son. And this is mentioned as a reason or argument for praise and thanksgiving in them that fear the Lord; since God has looked upon the redemption price his Son has paid for them sufficient; has not despised, but accepted of it as the ransom of their souls: some render the words, “the prayer of the afflicted”; so the Targum, and the Septuagint version, and the versions that follow that; which agrees with the next words:
neither hath he hid his face from him; when men did, as ashamed of him,
Isa 53:3; for though he forsook him for a while, and in a little wrath hid his face from him for a moment, that he might bear the whole curse of the law for us; yet he returned again, and did not hide his face from him for even;
but when he cried unto him, he heard; cried not only on account of his crucifiers, that God would forgive them; but on account of himself, that he would not be afar off from him; that he would take his spirit or soul into his hands, into which he committed it; that he would deliver him from the power of death and the grave, and loose their bands; in all which he was heard, Heb 5:7.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(Heb.: 22:25) This tristich is the evangel itself. The materia laudis is introduced by . (principal form ) bending, bowing down, affliction, from , the proper word to denote the Passion. For in Isaiah, Isa 53:4, Isa 53:7, the Servant of God is also said to be and , and Zechariah, Zec 9:9, also introduces Him as and . The lxx, Vulgate, and Targum erroneously render it “cry.” does not mean to cry, but to answer, ; here, however, as the stem-word of , it means to be bent. From the (to regard as an abhorrence), which alternates with , we see that the sufferer felt the wrath of God, but this has changed into a love that sends help; God did not long keep His countenance hidden, He hearkened to him, for his prayer was well-pleasing to Him. is not the verbal adjective, but, since we have the definite fact of the rescue before us, it is a pausal form for , as in Psa 34:7, Psa 34:18; Jer 36:13.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
24. For he hath not despised. To rejoice in one another’s good, and to give thanks in common for each other’s welfare, is a branch of that communion which ought to exist among the people of God, as Paul also teaches,
“
That for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf.” (2Co 1:11,)
But this statement of David serves another important purpose — it serves to encourage every man to hope that God will exercise the same mercy towards himself. By the way, we are taught from these words that the people of God ought to endure their afflictions patiently, however long it shall please the Lord to keep them in a state of distress, that he may at length succor them, and lend them his aid when they are so severely tried.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
24. For he hath not despised Because “he hath not despised.” The answer of prayer, even of the afflicted poor, is the theme and occasion of this public praise.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, nor has He hid His face from Him. But when He cried to Him, He heard.’
And the reason why they are to praise God is because He has not despised or turned away from the deep afflictions of the Afflicted One. Rather when He had cried from the extremities of His soul, God had heard Him. This was in deep contrast to what men had done earlier (Psa 22:6-8).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Sweet and blessed testimony of our God himself. It is as if Jesus had said, My Father hath not despised, nor abhorred the affliction of me his afflicted One, but hath accepted me, and my offering for you, my redeemed. What an encouragement is this, at all times, for Jesus’s afflicted ones to go to a mercy-seat, in his most precious name. Oh! how sure of success. Joh 16:23 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 22:24 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.
Ver. 24. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction ] Vel responsionem, id est orationem, quae est responsio linguae, Pro 16:1 . With men a poor man’s tale cannot be heard; and the answer given to such cuts off half the petition, as the echo doth the voice; but here it is otherwise. “I know thy poverty,” saith Christ to one of the seven Churches; “but” (that is nothing) “thou art rich.” God thinks not the worse of his suppliants for their meanness, but the better rather.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the affliction = the humiliation.
the afflicted = the patient One.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
For: Psa 22:6, Psa 35:10, Psa 69:29-34, Isa 50:6-9
neither: Luk 23:46
but: Psa 22:2, Psa 34:6, Psa 116:3-6, Psa 118:5, Heb 5:7
Reciprocal: Gen 16:11 – hath Exo 2:24 – God heard Exo 3:7 – I have Job 36:5 – despiseth Psa 9:12 – he forgetteth Psa 34:4 – sought Psa 38:21 – O my God Psa 51:17 – thou Psa 66:16 – and I will Psa 69:17 – hide Psa 102:17 – not despise Psa 118:21 – General Psa 140:12 – the Lord Psa 143:7 – hide not Pro 14:21 – that despiseth Jon 2:2 – I cried Act 7:10 – delivered
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
22:24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the {o} afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
(o) The poor afflicted are comforted by this example of David, or Christ.