Psalm 22 – Is everyone saved by Jesus’ death?

Is everyone saved by Jesus' death? That's an idea that some people believe. Or at least want to believe. David appears to say everyone will be saved in Psalm 22. But did he really say that?

Psalm 22 is very long. You'll see in the background info for this Psalm that it's about Jesus on the cross. Since I'm only going to go into one portion of the Psalm, that's all I'm going to include here. However, I do recommend using the links provided to read the entire Psalm.

Psalm 22
...
Ps 22:22 I will declare your name to my brothers; 
         in the congregation I will praise you. 

Ps 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! 
         All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! 
         Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 

Ps 22:24 For he has not despised or disdained 
         the suffering of the afflicted one; 
         he has not hidden his face from him 
         but has listened to his cry for help. 

Ps 22:25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; 
         before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. 

         Ps 22:26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; 
         they who seek the LORD will praise him— 
         may your hearts live forever! 

Ps 22:27 All the ends of the earth 
         will remember and turn to the LORD, 
         and all the families of the nations 
         will bow down before him, 

         Ps 22:28 for dominion belongs to the LORD 
         and he rules over the nations. 
...

Some background on Psalm 22

Some passages are obvious prophecies: Isaiah 53, for example. Others are less obvious. One passage that is clearly a prophecy of the Lord’s death and resurrection is Psalm 22. It is so clearly a picture of death by crucifixion and a triumph to follow that it is not possible to explain it by anything any mere human being in the Old Testament period may have suffered. David suffered through many hard times, but he never experienced anything like this. Therefore, Psalm 22 is a portrait of the death and triumph of Jesus Christ alone, and it must have been one of the texts Jesus picked out and explained to his two disciples on the famous walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus on Easter Sunday morning.  ¹Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary (p. 200). Baker Books.

The verse the excerpt refers to is Lk 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. By itself, that tells us pretty much nothing. Unless you happen to be able to place that verse into the event where it occurred. Since most people can't do that, here's the passage.

On the Road to Emmaus

Lk 24:13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

Lk 24:17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Lk 24:19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

Lk 24:25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Lk 24:28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.