The stone the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. Psalm118:22-23
Psalm 118 is the pinnacle expression of God’s work of redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is also, most likely, the last song Jesus ever sang during His life here on earth. Moreover, when all believers praise Him as the conquering King, when we are resurrected to a new life of heavenly worship, we will, most likely, sing this song together to praise the Lord for His enduring love. Needless to say, there is too much that could be written about Psalm 118 to express its profound eternal implications. That said, let us look at this Psalm through the lens of Passover, Israel’s exodus from Egypt, and Easter, resurrection Sunday, the two most significant examples of God’s redemption in the Bible.
Leading up to the original Passover, God sent His servant Moses to confront Pharaoh and to demand the release of His people from the bondage of slavery so that they could be free to worship God. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not release the Israelites, and God produced miracles, signs, and wonders through Moses to prove His approval of His chosen messenger. Even after Pharaoh aggressively kicked the Hebrews out of Egypt and the whole nation of Israel set out into the wilderness, the situation grew worse and worse as it appeared that the Israelites were lost and confused, and the Egyptians pursued them to kill and conquer them. BUT GOD opened the gates of the Red Sea, parting the waters so that the Israelites walked through on dry ground. God delivered victory to His people, but their enemies, the Egyptians, were drowned and buried in the sea as it closed back up again. All Israel rejoiced at the salvation of the Lord! God is their God, and He had shined His face upon them!
Leading up to the original resurrection Sunday, God sent His Son and servant Jesus to confront the world, the flesh, and the devil and to demand the release of God’s people from the bondage of sin and the snare of death so that they could be free to worship God. God hardened the hearts of the religious and political leaders so that they would not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and God produced miracles, signs, and wonders through Jesus to prove His approval of His chosen messenger. Once Jesus was tried and crucified on the cross and was placed in the tomb, the situation grew worse and worse as it appeared that Jesus may not have been God’s Messiah for it seemed that death had conquered Him. This was terribly confusing to those who believed that He was the Christ. BUT GOD opened up the gates of the tomb, rolling away all reproach, and Jesus walked out on dry ground, resurrected to new life. God delivered victory to His Son, and the enemies of mankind, namely sin and death, were overcome and conquered for all who would believe. Through this, Jesus Himself became the gate for all believers everywhere to worship God freely. Now, all of God’s people from all nations can rejoice at the salvation of the Lord! God is our God, and He shines His face upon us!
Read Psalm 118 again with fresh perspective. More importantly, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful love endures forever! No ma er what you are facing today, even if it appears to be growing worse and worse, place your trust in God and cry out to Him in your anguish and distress. He will answer you and set you free. This is the day the Lord has made – REJOICE!
Psalm 118 (New Living Translation)
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Let all Israel repeat:
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
Though hostile nations surrounded me, I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord. Yes, they surrounded and attacked me, but I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
They swarmed around me like bees; they blazed against me like a crackling fire. But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
My enemies did their best to kill me, but the Lord rescued me.
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.
Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things! The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done.
The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not let me die.
Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord.
These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!
The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Please, Lord, please save us.
Please, Lord, please give us success.
Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God, shining upon us.
Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Originally published as: "God's Love Endures" - Reprinted from The Obedience of Faith Blog - Copyright © 2013 Wendy Bowen – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE