All previous laments seem minor compared to this outcry against the enemy and God's abandonment. The psalm has two main sections:
the lament (Psalm 22:1–21) and
praise for redemption (Psalm 22:22–31).
This naturally leads to Psalm 23.
The apostles saw this psalm as expressing the sufferings of Jesus Christ. He ultimately fulfilled the purpose of David's humiliation, rejection by people, and divine abandonment (Matthew 27:35, 39, 43, 46; Mark 15:34; John 19:23–24, 28; Hebrews 2:12).