Welcome to Day 2465 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 22:11-21 Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2465 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2465 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.. In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we’ll be focusing on Psalm 22:11-21 from the New Living Translation. Psalm 22 is one of the most profound and prophetic Psalms, offering a glimpse into deep suffering but also a steadfast trust in God’s deliverance. In the previous verses, David cried out to God in anguish, feeling abandoned and mocked by his enemies. As we move forward, we see his distress intensify, but at the same time, his desperate plea for God’s presence and rescue becomes even more urgent. Let’s read Psalm 22:11-21 together before we break it down and explore its message. Psalm 22:11-21 (NLT): 11 Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. 12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! 13 Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. 14 My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. 15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. 16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. 17 I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. 18 They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing. 19 O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! 20 Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs. 21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen. The Depth of Desperation (Verses 11-13): The first thing we notice in verse 11 is David’s desperate plea for God not to stay far away from him. “Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.” David acknowledges that God is his only source of rescue. The situation is dire, and there is no one else he can turn to. This is a common theme throughout the Psalms—turning to God in moments of desperation when human strength and resources have utterly failed. David is surrounded by his enemies, who he describes as being like a “herd of bulls” in verse 12. These aren’t just any bulls, but the “fierce bulls of Bashan,” known for their strength and power. The imagery here is vivid—David feels completely encircled by these mighty, untamable forces. In verse 13, he takes the metaphor further, likening his enemies to lions who have opened their jaws, roaring and ready to tear into their prey. This vivid imagery paints a picture of the danger David is in—he’s not just threatened, he’s on the verge of being consumed, like a vulnerable animal in the jaws of a predator. These verses express the urgency of David’s cry for help. The bulls and lions symbolize overwhelming danger, and...
