Jesus the...worm?

Psalm 23 is a fan favorite among many who believe in the Bible. Go once psalm back though and it’s a rich one as well. It’s one that Jesus quoted from while He was dying on the cross (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). He was speaking in His native language Aramaic, but He quoted the opening line of David’s twenty-second psalm; “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Many in Christendom believe that the Father was denying His Son at this moment. It’s hard to say but I don’t hold to this view that God was forsaking Jesus. He cannot deny Himself, right? (2 Timothy 2:12-13) I lean more towards the view that Jesus was simply making reference to Psalm 22 for the crowd there. He wanted to turn their attention to this particular psalm as it is known to be a prophetic psalm or messianic psalm; meaning it points to Jesus.

The Jews that knew this psalm would have recalled verses like 16-18 which states,

“For dogs have surrounded Me;

The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.

They pierced My hands and My feet;

I can count all My bones.

They look and stare at Me.

They divide My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Certainly, they did pierce His hands and feet and even Roman soldiers were casting lots for His garments (John 19:24). It’s extremely remarkable to know that this psalm was written hundreds of years before the crucifixion of Jesus.

I’d like to turn your attention to another verse in this psalm though. That would be verse six. Here, David pens, “But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.” It seems like he’s saying he’s not well liked among his people.

Why does David say “worm” though? Maybe because they are an inferior creature too. Seems kind of fitting for the metaphor he uses. The Hebrew word is interesting too that he uses here. It’s the Hebrew word tôlā. It denotes a specific type of worm found in the Middle East known as the crimson worm. In fact, this Hebrew word is more often translated “crimson” or “scarlet” because it’s of this worm where people back then got scarlet dye from. They would use in making clothes and other things.

This worm is pretty interesting. When they are pregnant, the females would attach themselves to a tree and make a shell. Then they would lay their eggs on the bark. After hatching, the larva then feed off the mother under the shell. Their body would turn crimson and it would stain the tree in the process. That’s where people would get the dye from.

What another perfect analogy of our Lord. He put Himself on a tree (another name for cross), and stained it with His own blood to protect us!

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18) Have you made your robe white with His blood? (Revelation 7:14)

#Psalm #Bible #worm #crimson #scarlet #Hebrew