Scott ministers primarily in Korea and in the United States through preaching, teaching, and worship ministry. He is currently the Worship Minister of Young-Dong First Church in Seoul, Korea, leading the worship group David's Tabernacle (다윗의 장막).
He has ministered internationally on five continents in nearly a dozen countries. Scott's passion is to see the nations of the earth embrace Jesus as Savior, and for the church to be revived and equipped as the light of the world to this generation.
My God My God Why Have You Forsaken Me?
Scott Brenner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why are you so far from helping me
And from the words of my groaning?
Oh, my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not hear
And in the night season and am not silent
But you are holy
Enthroned in the praises of Israel
They trusted and you delivered them
They cried to you and were delivered
They trusted in you and were not ashamed
But I am a worm and no man
A reproach of men and despised by the people
All those who see me laugh me to scoff
They shoot out the lip they shake the head, saying
"He trusted in the Lord, let him rescue him"
"Let him deliver him, since he delights in him"
But you are he who took me out of the womb
You made me trust when I was on my mother′s breasts
I was cast upon you from birth
From my mother's womb
You have been my God
Be not far from me
For trouble is near
And there is none to help
Many bulls have surrounded me
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me
They gape at me with their mouths
As a raging of a roaring lion
I am poured out like water
And all my bones are out of joint
My heart is like wax
It′s melted within me
My strength is dried up like a potsherd
And my tongue clings to my jaws
You have brought me to the dust of death
Eloi, Eloi! Lama sabachthani?
Eloi, Eloi! Lama sabachthani?
Eloi, Eloi! Lama sabachthani?
Eloi, Eloi!
Eloi, Eloi! Lama sabachthani?
Eloi, Eloi! Lama sabachthani?
Eloi, Eloi!
Eloi! Lama sabachthani?
The dogs have surrounded me
The assembly of the wicked has enclosed me
They pierced my hands and my feet
I can count all my bones
They look and stare at me
They divide my garments among them
And for my clothing they cast lots
But you, oh, Lord, do not be far from me
Oh, my strength, hasten to help me
Deliver me from the sword
My precious life from the power of the dog
Save me from the lion's mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen
You have answered me
The lyrics of Scott Brenner's song "My God My God Why Have You Forsaken Me?" are a reflection of the psalm with the same title, Psalm 22, from the Bible. This psalm is a lamentation, expressing feelings of abandonment, distress, and persecution. The song begins with the line "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", echoing the words of Jesus on the cross as recorded in the New Testament. The singer, in his desperation, questions God's absence and lack of response to his pleas for help. He feels isolated and unheard, both in his cries during the day and the silence of the night.
The song then juxtaposes the singer's present situation with the faith of his ancestors who trusted in God and were delivered. This can be seen in the lines "Our fathers trusted in you, they cried to you and were delivered, they trusted in you and were not ashamed." The singer acknowledges his own insignificance and feeling of being despised by others. He narrates how people mock him, attributing his suffering to his trust in the Lord and challenging God to rescue him, doubting His delight in him.
The lyrics then shift to a plea for God's presence and help. The singer recalls how God has been with him since birth, and he asks God not to be far away because trouble is near, and there is no one else to help. He then describes his dire circumstances, with fierce enemies surrounding him like strong bulls, likening their aggression to that of a roaring lion. He vividly expresses the physical and emotional toll he has endured, with his heart melting like wax and his strength dried up. He feels on the verge of death, brought down to the dust.
The song reaches its climax as the singer quotes the words spoken by Jesus on the cross in Aramaic, "Eloi, Eloi! Lama sabachthani?" These words translate to "My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?" This cry of Jesus reflects the ultimate abandonment and suffering He experienced in His crucifixion, emphasized by the repetition of these lines in the song.
The song concludes with the singer recognizing the assembly of the wicked surrounding him and the piercing of his hands and feet, foreshadowing the crucifixion. He describes the act of dividing his garments and casting lots for them, another detail that aligns with the crucifixion narrative. The singer once again calls out to God, asking Him to not be far away and to deliver him from the sword, the power of the dog, the lion's mouth, and the horns of wild oxen. The song ends with the affirmation that God has indeed answered the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Oh God, why have you abandoned and left me alone?
Why are you so far from helping me and from the words of my groaning?
Why aren't you close enough to listen and assist me with my cries?
Oh, my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not hear
Even when I cry out to you during the day, you do not respond
And in the night season and am not silent
I continue to cry out to you during the night, refusing to stay silent
But you are holy
But you are pure and sacred
Enthroned in the praises of Israel
You are honored and exalted by the praises of your people
Our fathers trusted in you
Our ancestors had faith and relied on you
They trusted and you delivered them
They placed their trust in you, and you rescued them
They cried to you and were delivered
They called out to you, and you saved them
They trusted in you and were not ashamed
They had confidence in you, and you did not let them down
But I am a worm and no man
But I am insignificant and treated as less than a person
A reproach of men and despised by the people
I am a subject of ridicule and scorn among others
All those who see me laugh me to scoff
Everyone who sees me mocks and ridicules me
They shoot out the lip they shake the head, saying
They pucker their lips and shake their heads, taunting me
"He trusted in the Lord, let him rescue him"
"He relied on God, let God save him"
"Let him deliver him, since he delights in him"
"If God really cares for him, let God rescue him"
But you are he who took me out of the womb
But you are the one who brought me into existence
You made me trust when I was on my mother′s breasts
You instilled in me a sense of trust and reliance from my earliest days
I was cast upon you from birth
I have always depended on you from the moment I was born
From my mother's womb, you have been my God
Since before I was born, you have been my Lord and protector
Be not far from me
Do not stay distant from me
For trouble is near
Danger is approaching
And there is none to help
And there is no one to come to my aid
Many bulls have surrounded me
I am surrounded by numerous enemies
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me
Powerful adversaries have formed a ring around me
They gape at me with their mouths
They open their mouths wide in threat
As a raging of a roaring lion
Like the fierce roar of a lion
I am poured out like water
I am weak and exhausted, like water being poured out
And all my bones are out of joint
My entire body is in great pain and disarray
My heart is like wax
My heart is melting with fear and distress
It′s melted within me
It has completely liquefied within me
My strength is dried up like a potsherd
My strength has withered away, like a broken piece of pottery
And my tongue clings to my jaws
Even my tongue feels stuck and parched in my mouth
You have brought me to the dust of death
You have brought me to the brink of dying, where I am as good as dust
Eloi, Eloi! Lama sabachthani?
My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?
The dogs have surrounded me
Like vicious dogs, my enemies have encircled me
The assembly of the wicked has enclosed me
A group of wicked individuals has trapped me
They pierced my hands and my feet
They have pierced my hands and feet with their wicked actions
I can count all my bones
I am so emaciated and weak that I can see and count my own bones
They look and stare at me
They gaze upon me with curiosity and mockery
They divide my garments among them
They take my clothing and divide it among themselves
And for my clothing they cast lots
They gamble and throw dice to determine who gets my clothes
But you, oh, Lord, do not be far from me
But you, oh Lord, do not stay distant from me
Oh, my strength, hasten to help me
Oh, my source of power, come quickly to my aid
Deliver me from the sword
Rescue me from imminent danger and violence
My precious life from the power of the dog
Save and protect me from the torment of my enemies
Save me from the lion's mouth
Rescue me from the jaws of danger and destruction
And from the horns of the wild oxen
And from the attacks of powerful and aggressive adversaries
You have answered me
You have heard my pleas and responded to me
Writer(s): Scott Brenner
Contributed by Tyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.