Psalm 22:26 (ESV) … “The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!”
Mark how the dying Lover of our souls solaces himself with the result of his death. The spiritually poor find a feast in Jesus, they feed upon him to the satisfaction of their hearts; they were famished until he gave himself for them, but now they are filled with royal dainties. The thought of the joy of his people gave comfort to our expiring Lord.
Note the characters who partake of the benefit of his passion; “the meek or afflicted,” the humble, and lowly. Lord make us so. Note also the certainty that gospel provisions shall not be wasted, “they shall eat;” and the sure result of such eating, “and be satisfied.” “They shall praise the Lord that seek him.” For a while they may keep a fast, but their thanksgiving days must and shall come. “Your heart shall live for ever.”
Your spirits shall not fail through trial, you shall not die of grief, immortal joys shall be your portion. Thus Jesus speaks even from the cross to the troubled seeker. If his dying words are so assuring, what consolation may we not find in the truth that he ever liveth to make intercession for us! They who eat at Jesus’ table receive the fulfilment of the promise, “Whosoever eateth of this bread shall live for ever.”[1]
[1] Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 1-26 (Vol. 1, p. 333). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.
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