No pre-Christian commentaries on Psalm 22 have been preserved. However, this psalm is typical of the "lament" category of sacred Jewish poetry and would be understood as one of many such examples in the Book of Psalms. Those who heard it performed as part of the Temple liturgy would pay close attention to lines such as "in the midst of the congregation I will praise you" (22) and "from you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him." (25) On the other hand, the lines descriptive of the psalmist's suffering and his plea for God to save him would not be understood as messianic or prophetic, but as an expression of physical or spiritual agony together with a cry for God's deliverance, with which the hearer could empathize.
Psalm 69
Several lament-type psalms begin with an expression of despair and end with a promise that if the sufferer is saved, he will declare God's grace to the congregation, just as this one does. Let's look at two other examples and then read excerpts from Ps. 22 as part of this tradition.
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold... let your salvation, O God, set me on high! 30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 109
Be not silent, O God of my praise! 2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. 3 They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause...I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads. 26 Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest... 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads...But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!... 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
Conclusion: a first-century Jew would most likely understand Psalm 22 as a lament typical of this genre of sacred poetry. It would not stand out as prophetic or messianic, but would be understood more as devotional and personal. If it was performed in the Temple or read in the synagogue, the sufferer's pledge to praise God in the midst of the congregation would take on special significance. Meanwhile the lines that Christians interpret as referring to Jesus would be understood as powerful expressions of physical or spiritual agony similar to those found in many other psalms. The psalmist's plea for God's salvation would stir the hearer to rely on God for deliverance from their own trials and tribulations.