Psalm 22 is a fascinating psalm. It appears to talk of the events and situations during the Lord’s trial and crucifixion that wouldn't occur until 1000 years later. It is indeed a remarkably close parallel, even to some of the details spoken about in the gospel accounts. It begins with the same words which the Lord said on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Verses 1 to 21 have this relentless theme of suffering, but then in verse 22, and through to the end of the psalm, the mood changes to confidence, praise, devotion and the experience that the Lord has not hidden his face, and that when the cry was made, He heard.

While this psalm expresses the Lord’s own deep temptations, spoken in the psalm’s literal words and seen in the divine truths revealed through it, it is important and useful for us to also see this psalm in terms of our own spiritual states during regeneration, which, as we've seen in other psalms, are parallel to those of the Lord.

It is a feature of the temptations and experiences we go through in our spiritual life that the Lord seems to us to be absent. This is one of the hardest and most inexplicable appearances that we get. We may understand the teaching that the Lord is closer to us in temptation than at any other time, but when we're in those states, we don't see supporting evidence for it. In fact, it is a necessary appearance for us to NOT see evident support, i.e. to feel we are on our own, so that we make up our own mind and decide on our response to temptation with no outside help, except that of the Word. (True Christian Religion 70)

The psalm immediately becomes a remembrance of past times in our lives when we were in confusion and felt fear and cried out to the Lord and were eventually delivered. This serves to remind us that it is the infinite and eternal wish of the Lord to deliver all of us, and that, as it was, it will be so again this time. (Arcana Caelestia 10219)

Verses 6 to 8 carry the hurtful idea of mockery and reproach from others, being taunted for our trust in the Lord. Spiritually, this is associated with our own doubts which can come unsought, and behind them, the influence of evil spirits. Again, it is important to recognise that this is symptomatic of temptation. (Heaven and Hell 575)

There seems to be a clear inner dialogue happening where such tempted states are answered or another view is perceived. Verses 9 to 11 deeply affirm our sense of the Lord as the cause and purpose of our life, from its beginning. The spiritual idea of the ‘mother’ here is that of protection, nurture and the implantation in our minds of ‘remains’ (direct heavenly states especially during infancy which remain with us at a deep level and become crucial in adult regeneration).

Verses 12 to 18 describe the most harrowing states of temptation which feel like a death. The imagery is particularly graphic.

‘Bulls encircle and gape’. Bulls stand for wild attacking threatening experiences and inner thoughts which we feel we are powerless to counter. (See Arcana Caelestia 10407.)

‘I am poured out like water’ gives the sensation of our spirit sinking into despair.

‘My bones are out of joint’ expresses the sense that every truth we have felt connected with has now been torn away, because bones represent truths which hold our mind in place as bones do our body. (Arcana Caelestia 3812)

In verse 18 we have a particularly memorable parallel with a crucifixion event -- the dividing of the Lord’s outer garments but casting lots for his inner clothing so that this remains whole. Spiritually, this stands for the way in which the Word is treated; its outer level can be divided or argued over, its inner level is perfect and one piece. For us, our outward life can have contradictions in it but if our inner life and our love for the Lord is real, we are sincere and whole. (Ref. Arcana Caelestia 9093)

After this verse, there is a call to the Lord to be present, to help and to deliver. This is followed by a powerful statement: You have answered Me. The rest of the psalm is confident in expressing the goodness of the Lord. Spiritually, this is speaking about our new state which comes at the end of temptation.