Run to Jesus

I was reading one of my favorite passages of the Bible today - Psalm 22. I was reading in the Message, and I found the way that the last few verses of the psalm were put touched me deeply. Here they are:

From the four corners of the earth
people are coming to their senses,
are running back to God.
Long-lost families
are falling on their faces before him.
God has taken charge;
from now on he has the last word.

29 All the power-mongers are before him
—worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too
—worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together
—worshiping!

Our children and their children
will get in on this
As the word is passed along
from parent to child.
Babies not yet conceived
will hear the good news—
that God does what he says.

That part where it speaks of long-lost families running to God.......A lump rose in my throat as hope rose in my heart. How many of us have family members who are "long-lost" and need to run to God? Isn't it wonderful that He is waiting there with open arms, waiting to welcome us, the ones who once rejected Him and spit in His face? I cannot think it chance that Jesus quoted the opening verses to this psalm from the cross, when He said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"** How appropriate that this psalm that begins so darkly and dismally with the writer lamenting God's abandonment ends with him proclaiming God's faithfulness.

*Psalm 22:27-31 (Message) **Psalm 22:1