2. Foes and fatigue 22:11-18

22:11 David cried out to God to be near him with saving help since he was in great danger and there was no one to assist him. He felt very much alone and vulnerable.

 David's enemies and agony 22:12-15

22:12-13 The psalmist felt he was at the mercy of his enemies as a person is in the presence of a dangerous bull or lion. Cattle grew large and strong in Bashan, the territory east of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee; cf. Num. 32:1-5; Amos 4:1).

22:14-15 With many other graphic word pictures David described how distressed he felt because of the attacks of his enemies. As water poured out on the ground he could not gather himself to resist them. He felt pained and incapable of defending himself as when bones become dislocated. His spirit rather than remaining firm had melted away like hot wax. He felt as devoid of energy as a broken shard of pottery. He was in need of refreshment as a thirsty person craves water when his mouth is dry. He concluded that he was almost in the grave, almost dead, because the Lord had not helped him.

 David's enemies and agony restated 22:16-18

22:16 David compared his enemies to wild dogs that had him surrounded and were waiting to finish him off. Already he felt as though they had begun to tear him apart by biting his extremities, his hands and feet. Years later the enemies of the Lord Jesus truly pierced His hands and His feet when they nailed Him to the cross (cf. Luke 24:39-40).

22:17-18 Again David followed a description of his enemies with one of his own agony (cf. vv. 12-15). He was evidently weak and emaciated; his bones were showing prominently under his skin due to loss of weight produced by his distress. Apparently his enemies were so sure that David would perish they were already invading his wardrobe and dividing his clothes up among themselves. Again, this really happened when Jesus Christ's enemies crucified Him (Matt. 27:35).