“And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at 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 me?”
Mark 15:33-34
“To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? why art You so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You hear not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But You are Holy, O You that inhabits the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You: they trusted, and You did deliver them. They cried unto You, and were delivered: they trusted in You, and were not confounded.”
Psalms 22:1-5
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachtani” are the first Hebrew lyrics of the 22nd Psalm of King David. This was the most powerful thing he could have said. Psalm 22 condemns the wicked and justifies the righteous which is exactly what Jesus came to do.
Prophecy Fulfilled
By saying “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachtani” Jesus directed the eyes of the world to Psalm 22. The first half of this Psalm of David describes the Scriptural prophecy of his trial and crucifixion, and condemnation of his false accusers.
“Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.”
Psalms 22:11-16
“And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together…”
Luke 23:10-12
A Hidden Message
Jesus was sending a hidden message to his brethren by saying “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachtani”.
The second half of Psalm 22 contains a message to the congregation of Israel.
“I will declare Your Name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise You. You that reverence the LORD, praise Him; all you the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and reverence Him, all you the seed of Israel. For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither has He hid His face from him; but when he cried unto Him, He heard. My praise shall be of You in the great congregation:”
Psalms 22:22-25
To the Lost Tribes of Israel
His message has gone out to the ends of the earth. The Lost Tribes of the House of Israel have been scattered to the four corners of the earth. The time has come to take heed of this message. It is a declaration of praise and reverence to God alone.
The ‘congregation’ referred to in Psalm 22:22 are the descendants of Jacob, as it says in the next verse “all you seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and reverence Him, all you the seed of Israel.”
“In the Old Testament the English word ‘congregation’ is the translation of several Hebrew words that carry the idea of “an appointed meeting” or “an assembly called together.” These words point to Israel as the community of the Law, a “sacred assembly” gathered together by God and appointed to be His covenant people.”
Nelson’s Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible; an excerpt from the definition of ‘congregation’, ©1986
Unto My Brethren
In the Epistle to the Hebrews, Barnabas quotes Psalms 22:22 in regards to Jesus and his brethren:
“But we see Jesus…crowned with glory and honor;…For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, ‘I will declare Your Name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church* will I sing praise unto you’. And again, ‘I will put my trust in Him’. And again, ‘Behold I and the children which God has given me.'”
Hebrew 2:9-13
There is one glaring difference in the translation from Hebrew to Greek seen in the above passage. The word church has been used in the place of congregation.
The Called Out Ones
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word קהל (qahal) used in the phrase “in the midst of the congregation” rightly means an assemblage, holy convocation or congregation.
In the New Testament, the Greek word εκκλησια (ecclesia) used in the phrase “in the midst of the church”, actually means, “a calling out from.”
The congregation of Israel are the ‘Called out Ones’. The descendants of Jacob are the brethren of Jesus.
Called out from where?
“Go forth out of Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say, ‘The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob.”
Isaiah 48:20
The churches, cathedrals, and other houses of worship have led the majority astray by teaching false doctrines. False doctrines include the worship of idols and veneration of the crucifix.
“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:16-18
“Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matthew 24:4
One must come out, away from church, to learn the Truth of God’s Word.
The Son of God
“…as my Father has taught me, I speak these things. And He that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.”
John 8:28-29
Jesus learned from the Scriptures the perfect Will of God. He did only that which pleased God, his Heavenly Father. A good father raises his children by teaching them the upright way. God, as the most righteous Father, provides His Children with His Word to guide them. Jesus studied God’s Word, and followed His Instructions; that is how Jesus became the Son of God.
Blessed are those who make themselves like him. Receive the instruction of the Father through His Word.
“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Romans 8:29
Learn the instruction of the Father. Walk as the Children of God.
Declare His Name
“My praise shall be of you in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that reverence Him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they that seek Him shall praise the LORD: your heart shall live forever. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before you. For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and He is the governor among the nations. 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. A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He has done this.”
Psalms 22:25-31
In his final hour, Jesus praised God, declaring His Name, unto his brethren. The instruction to the congregation of Israel at the end of Psalm 22, is to praise God as the one and only authority. God’s authority alone is true and righteous.
With one line, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachtani,” Jesus condemned the principalities, the rulers and spiritual wickedness in high places. Jesus called out to his brethren, the lost and scattered tribes of Israel. He justified the righteous congregation of his brethren who declare the Name and Authority of Our Father, the creator of Heaven and Earth.