Worm Theology

Yesterday morning's sermon had as its text Psalm 22:6: "I am a worm, and not a man." Pastor Overduin exegeted this "amazing gospel statement" under three points: It is so astonishing, so solemn, and so glorious.

Astonishing : While David as the author of the Psalm was seemingly forsaken by God, the Psalm is a Messianic Psalm (the most quoted of such in the NT) and speaks to Christ actually being forsaken. The cross points us to God forsaken of God, the Son of God being as a worm and no man. "The history of the cross is the most abnormal event in the history of the world. When have you last spoke in amazement of Jesus Christ and Him crucified?"

Solemn: The necessity of the cross directs us to the "wormly unworthiness" that sinful humanity is before God. "Worm talk is not very popular these days. Worm theology, however, is not negative, but positive." How often does our own flippancy about sin end up treating Christ and His cross as a worm -- unnoticed and trampled upon?

Glorious: Psalm 22 changes tone from a sob to an adoration. It is similar to the gospel of Isaiah 41.14: "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel: I will help thee says the Lord and thy redeemer, the Holy one of Israel." The great "I am's" spoken by Jesus and recorded in the gospel of John are made possible because of the "I am" of Psalm 22. "He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people." (Psalm 113:7-8).