“THE ENDS OF THE EARTH WILL REMEMBER”

 By Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry Jr

Psalm 22 prophesies that “all the ends of the earth will remember [1] and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before Thee” (v 27).[2] Interestingly, like Psalm 2 this psalm refers to Christ’s suffering. In fact, evangelicals universally recognize Psalm 22:1–21 is prophesying the crucifixion. Verse 1 is uttered by Christ in his agony on the cross (Mt 27:46); verse 18 is also fulfilled at the cross (Jn 19:2).

Yet his suffering quickly gives way to his glorious dominion (vv 22–31), as per the pattern of the New Testament: suffering then glory (Lk 24:26; Php 2:6–11; 1Pe 1:11). After his suffering men will declare his praise in the church (Ps 22:22; Heb 2:12). That praise includes the church (“great assembly,” Heb 12:23) proclaiming his victory (Ps 22:27ff). The reason he will save the earth is that the earth is his by right (Ps 22:28); he creates the material earth for his glory. And he displays his glory through worldwide redemption.

J. A. Alexander, E. W. Hengstenberg, and others note the interesting collusion of Christ’s concluding words on the cross (“It is finished”) with the closing words of Psalm 22, which speaks of the cross and the glory to follow: “He has performed it.” [3] His redemptive work includes both the cross and the crown — in time and on earth. This obviously anticipates the fruition of the God’s covenant, which he administers through Abraham and expands to Moses and David. We cannot understand this amillennially as occurring in heaven or in consummate new earth, for it speaks of the earth as turning and remembering, i.e., undergoing conversions. It also speaks of death (v 29) and later generations following their fathers (vv 30–31).
Notes
1. They “remember” because of their being created in God’s image (Ge 1:26) and having an innate awareness of the Creator (Ro 1:19–20).
2. Cf. Ps 66:4; 68:31–32; 82:8; 86:9. In the Old Testament, worshiping before God means worshiping in Jerusalem. But in Messiah’s day it means worshiping anywhere: Mt 18:20; John 4:21; Isa 66:23; Mal 1:11.
3. Alexander, Psalms, 107; Hengstenberg, Christology of the Old Testament, 1:396.