Chp. 101 ~ Jesus Christ Symbolically Became The Image Of Our Sin Soaked Soul (Job 15:16).

Justin continues expounding Psalm 22 in its intent to foreshadow the cross of Christ. Though David prays this in the actuality of his sin and of the sorrow of the pain and consequence of his heart in the position of his dignified kingship, Christ was the sinless, spotless, harmless, and undefiled Lamb of God symbolically interceding this on behalf of shameful sinners like David.

“Then what follows of the Psalm is this, in which He says: ‘Our fathers trusted in Thee; they trusted, and Thou didst deliver them. They cried unto Thee, and were not confounded. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people;’ which show that He admits them to be His fathers, who trusted in God and were saved by Him, who also were the fathers of the Virgin, by whom He was born and became man; and He foretells that He shall be saved by the same God, but boasts not in accomplishing anything through His own will or might. Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 249). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. The Roman cross was intended to shame those who would even conceive of committing such crimes against the Roman Provinces. It was an inhumane and undignified manner of the proclamation of common justice against the criminals of the Roman standard and flag of Caesar. Therefore to hang upon this tree was to be declared lower than a wild beast, lower than the common standards of the people, and lower than the old serpent himself by inhumane decree of Caesar. What is a worm but a reproach of all created things? It's not a beast; it's not man; and is not even higher than the dust of the earth. This is the image of "the cross" of Christ. This is the image that God is declaring "our sin" to be. And it is this image that is of the heart that does not know God, and of the heart that is not known by God. It is this "indignity" that Christ suffered "being forsaken" by God as an Ichabod child of Israel. This is how Christ was treated by his countrymen. For when on earth He acted in the very same manner, and answered to one who addressed Him as ‘Good Master:’ ‘Why callest thou me good? One is good, my Father who is in heaven.’8 But when He says, ‘I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people,’ He prophesied the things which do exist, and which happen to Him. For we who believe on Him are everywhere a reproach, ‘despised of the people;’ for, rejected and dishonoured by your nation, He suffered those indignities which you planned against Him. And the following: ‘All they that see me laughed me to scorn; they spake with the lips, they shook the head: He trusted in the Lord; let Him deliver him, since he desires Him;’ this likewise He foretold should happen to Him. For they that saw Him crucified shook their heads each one of them, and distorted their lips, and twisting their noses to each other,9 they spake in mockery the words which are recorded in the memoirs of His apostles: ‘He said he was the Son of God: let him come down; let God save him.’ Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 249). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin is setting the stage for the mirror of Israel's shame. Will the light continue to shine in Israel if they reject Christ as their King? If it wasn't for Pontius Pilate I would say, no. But since Pilate crucified Christ as the King of the Jews the light must continue to shine in the Hebrew nation; a light that cannot be taken away from them; even if they would would hide it like a lamp under the bed, because if Christ is their Ichabod child, then, Christ is their eternal substitute for sin. Therefore, what man has invented for evil God has used for good. The foolishness of preaching this cross - in all its shame - is the most dignified gift of God's grace. To be despised for this most dignified work is to be despised for trusting God. It was for a good work that Christ willingly endured the shame and "indignity" of the Roman cross. Surely, we can call Christ good Master. But He was a good Master because His Father put Him to open shame, and it was for His Father's honor that we should be reconciled to God through His earthly sufferings. But consider the eternal grief in his heart knowing that some will suffer the everlasting torments of Hell for not obeying the gospel of Christ. It was in this pain and suffering that God in Jesus Christ willingly forsook Himself, for it would not be righteous for God to forsake His eternal Justice. 2 Timothy 2:13 (NKJV) 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. What did God forsake in Himself but grace itself. There was no need for God to save Himself, for there was no need for grace within Himself. This was a forsaking of an attribute to put on another attribute. God put off justice in himself, which was required of himself, to put on grace in us, which is not required towards us. Philippians 2:5–11 (NKJV) 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. All of this to glorify - in us - the nature of our God the Father. All of this to restore in us the image that was lost through Adam's sin nature. What beauty and what love is this that he was called Ichabod falsely that we should be called the children of God justly? John 1:11–14 (NKJV) 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.