What does Psalms Chapter 22 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The speaker describes the Lord’s rule, pasture, refreshment and paths of justice. God’s presence, rod and staff comfort him amid the prospect of death’s shadow. The table and inebriating chalice lead to future mercy and a wish for dwelling in God’s house.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Dominus regit me. The separate heading identifies God's spiritual benefits to faithful souls. In this psalm for David the speaker says the Lord rules him and he shall want nothing. The separate note gives the Hebrew sense as his shepherd, to feed, guide and govern. He says God set him in pasture, brought him up on water of refreshment, converted his soul and led him in paths of justice for His name's sake.

Though he should walk in the midst of death's shadow, he will fear no evils because God is with him; rod and staff have comforted him. He says God prepared a table against those afflicting him, anointed his head with oil and gave a goodly chalice that inebriates him. The admitted wording does not say the cup overflows, identify a royal banquet or record adversaries being silenced.

The speaker says mercy will follow throughout his life and expresses that he may dwell in the Lord's house unto length of days. This is the psalm's confidence and aspiration, not a documented guarantee that every believer's anxiety ends or an assertion here of sacramental details.

The story inside

Opening: The speaker describes the Lord’s rule, pasture, refreshment and paths of justice. Development: God’s presence, rod and staff comfort him amid the prospect of death’s shadow. Conclusion: The table and inebriating chalice lead to future mercy and a wish for dwelling in God’s house.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The speaker describes the Lord’s rule, pasture, refreshment and paths of justice.
2
God’s presence, rod and staff comfort him amid the prospect of death’s shadow.
3
The table and inebriating chalice lead to future mercy and a wish for dwelling in God’s house.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 58985–58994
22:1. A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. Ruleth me.... In Hebrew, Is my shepherd, viz., to feed, guide, and govern me. 22:2. He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment: 22:3. He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.
Lines 58996–59002
22:4. For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me. 22:5. Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
Lines 59004–59005
22:6. And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.