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OUR LORD’S COMPLAINT ON THE CROSS
THE prophecies relating to our Lord have not only declared what works he should do, and what sufferings he should endure, but even the very words that should be uttered both by his enemies and himself. Whatever reference the words of the text might have to David, there can be no doubt but that they principally relate to the Lord Jesus; and in him they received their accomplishment: when he had hung about six hours upon the cross, we are told, “he cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli! Eli! lama sabacthani? that is to say, My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me [Note: Mat_27:46.]?” Perhaps he cried with a loud voice in order to shew, that his natural strength was by no means exhausted; and that his dissolution, which immediately followed, was voluntary: but he discovered also by that the intenseness of his sufferings, and fulfilled in the minutest manner the prediction before us. Waving all illustration of the text as applicable to David, we shall endeavour to elucidate it as accomplished in his great antitype, and shall consider,
I. The occasion of our Lord’s complaint—
Jesus, in the hour of his extremity, was forsaken of his heavenly Father—
[We are not to suppose that the godhead actually separated itself from his manhood; but that the sensible manifestation of the divine presence was withheld from him. This was necessary in various points of view. A banishment from the divine presence was part of the punishment due to sin; and therefore it must be inflicted on him who had become the surety and substitute of sinners. Occasional suspensions, also, of the tokens of God’s love are the means whereby God perfects the work of faith in his people’s hearts: and “it behoved Jesus to be made like unto us in all things:” “though he was a son, yet he must learn” the nature and the difficulty of “obedience (yea, and be made perfect too) through sufferings [Note: Heb_2:10; Heb_2:17-18; Heb_5:7-9.].” Nor could he properly sympathize with us, which, as our great High-Priest, he ought to do, unless he himself should endure the very temptations, which we, in our measure, are called to sustain [Note: Heb_4:15.].]
But though there was good reason for it, it was a just ground of complaint—
[Never had he endured any thing like this before: when he said, “Now is my soul troubled, it is exceeding sorrowful even unto death,” a voice was uttered from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased:” when he agonized in the garden, an angel was sent from heaven to strengthen him: but now that he was more fiercely than ever assaulted by all the powers of darkness, his heavenly Father also seemed to conspire with them, and withdrew the only consolation that remained for his support. What a dreadful aggravation of his sufferings must this have been! To cry, and even “roar” for help, and find God “far from helping him!” to have him, in whose bosom he had lain from all eternity, hide his face from him! How could he but complain? Surely in proportion as he loved his heavenly Father, he could not but bewail the hidings of his face.]
Lest however we should form a wrong conception of our Lord’s conduct, let us consider,
II. The complaint itself—
Let us not suppose that there was the smallest mixture of impatience in it—
[When our Lord first undertook to stand in the place of sinners, he said, “I delight to do thy will, O God.” When the cup of God’s wrath was put into his hand, he still acquiesced; and, though his human nature shrunk back for a while from the conflict, he committed himself to God, saying, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Nor was the complaint uttered on the cross any other than what every good man, under the hidings of God’s face, both may and ought to utter [Note: Psa_77:1-3; Psa_88:9-10; Psa_88:14.].]
It expressed the fullest confidence in God, and exhibited the brightest pattern to all his tempted people—
[Not for one moment does Jesus doubt his relation to his heavenly Father, as we alas! are too apt to do in seasons of deep affliction. His repetition of that endearing name, “My God! my God!” shews how steadfastly he maintained his faith and confidence; and teaches us, that, “when we are walking in darkness and have no light, we should trust in the Lord, and stay ourselves upon our God.”]
We may improve the subject by considering,
III. The lessons we may learn from it—
There is not any part of doctrine or experience which will not receive light from this subject. But we shall content ourselves with observing from it,
1. The greatness of Christ’s love—
[Truly the love of Christ has heights and depths that can never be explored. He knew from eternity all that he should endure, yet freely offered himself for us, nor ever drew back from his engagements: “Having loved his own, he loved them to the end.” But never shall we form any just conceptions of his love, till we behold that glory which he left for our sakes, and see, in the agonies of the damned, the miseries he endured. But when the veil shall be taken from our eyes, how marvellous will his love appear! and with what acclamations will heaven resound!]
2. The duty of those who are under the hidings of his face—
[Our enjoyment of Christ’s presence is variable, and often intermitted: but let us not on that account be discouraged. Let us pray, and that too with strong crying and tears; yea, let us expostulate with him, and ask, like Job, “Wherefore dost thou contend with me [Note: Job_10:2.]?” But though we say, “The Lord hath forsaken me,” let us never add, like the Church of old, “my Lord hath forgotten me.” If he hide himself, “it is but for a little moment, that he may gather us with everlasting mercies [Note: Isa_54:7-8.].” Therefore let us say with Job, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”]
3. The misery of those who are not interested in his atonement—
[We see what bitter lamentation sin occasioned in him, who bore the iniquities of others, even though he knew that his sufferings would quickly end. What wailing then and gnashing of teeth will they experience, who shall perish under their own personal guilt, when they shall be shut up as monuments of God’s wrath to all eternity [Note: Luk_23:31.]! Would to God that careless sinners would lay this to heart, while yet a remedy remains, and before they be finally separated from their God by an impassable gulf!]