Rick Lee JamesHealthcare Chaplain, Bon Secours Mercy Health · Husband, Dad, Hospital Chaplain, Recording Artist, Podcast Host, Loyola University IPS Graduate, Alpha Sigma Nu Member, and Recording Academy (GRAMMY®) member - Contributing musician on a Grammy-nomin

Psalm 22 Why Have You Forsaken Me

15 Jan 2014 · 5 min

Watch on YouTube

4:45

In this YouTube video, Speaker A introduces a personal psalm‑based song titled “Psalm 22,” explaining that it was written years earlier as a class assignment for a Psalms and Wisdom Literature course taught by Dr. Tim Green. The piece never appeared on the Basement Psalms Live album. Speaker B then performs the song, delivering a lyrical lament that echoes the biblical Psalm 22 and the New Testament cry “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani.” The lyrics express a deep sense of divine abandonment, questioning God’s distance while simultaneously affirming faith and willingness to serve despite suffering. The performance blends spoken‑word and musical elements, emphasizing personal reflection on suffering, divine presence, and perseverance.

Chapters

This is a psalm song that did not quite make it onto the Basement Psalms Live album. I wrote this many years ago, Psalm 22. I was in Psalms and Wisdom Literature class with Dr. Tim Green, and the assignment was to write a, to write a psalm that was based on one of the Psalms or a song or something like that. I don't remember the exact assignment, but I do know that this was the result of that. So this is Psalm 22, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" My God, why have you forsaken me?
My God, my God, why are you so far from helping me? You sit enthroned upon the praises of your faithful ones, and I know you're hearing If what I say is so, why will you not come? And I know you say you're with me, but I can't see it now. You call yourself Deliverer, but I just can't see how. Lord, you are so distant, but I'm told you're all around. And if you do not forsake me, why am I forsaken now? My soul pours out like water on the ground. My bones I count. My heart is melted down. And the dogs are runnin' round me. While the evildoers thrive. Lord, save me from these roaring beasts surrounding at all sides. And I know you said you're with me, but I can't see it now. You call yourself Deliverer, but I just can't see how. Lord, you are so distant, but I'm told you're all around. And if you did not forsake me, why am I forsaken now? I know you're not scared of my questions. I know you're not scared of my cries. And even though you slay me, I will serve you till I die. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani.