David is struggling with three areas of suffering. He’s broke, he’s been sinful, and he’s been betrayed. It’s a nasty trifecta of pain. Being poor is hard on the soul. It creates anxiety and a sense of helplessness that’s paralyzing. That’s why he begins his poem by blessing those who help the poor! His sin has also so damaged him. He needs healing and forgiveness in it. His brokenness itself is creating pain in his soul. And finally, he’s been hurt by a friend. That last one is very hard. We have all felt the ugly grief of betrayal.
I think this is why the apostles grabbed this poem as being about Jesus. Their advent comfort is here because Jesus felt all the pain of this world. Jesus was born poor. No amount of varnish can make an animal feed bin pretty. It’s awful. It’s a choice of the poorest of the poor, i.e., no choice at all. Did Jesus know the damage of sin? Yes, Jesus actually was sinless and “became sin” as Paul says in his letters. The damage of our souls was taken into His soul. Jesus was betrayed, betrayed by the person he “ate bread with” as it says in the poem. That eerie detail reminds you of that awkward moment at the Last Supper, when Judas dips his bread in the dish with Jesus. It must have gripped the apostles’ imagination to see this poem predict something that specific. More than that, it also gave them their deepest comfort in two ways. First, Jesus knows our pain and what it feels like. Put it this way: there’s a lot of “I know what you’re feeling” vibes coming from the throne of grace. But there’s a second part we don’t see, that the prophecy makes certain. If it was predicted, then God has planned it. As wild and out of control as life can feel, He does not let go. Advent means God works His love and grace and power in our greatest moments of pain and fear. Advent then offers us that hope and love in Jesus.
Praise Him!