"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:22-24)
These must be the most well-known verses in Psalm 118, with verse 24 being sung by Sunday School children throughout the world for hundreds of years. But let us look a little deeper at the text as it is far richer than what we usually sing about.
God's Salvation Confounds the World (vv22-23, 27)
The "stone" referred to in verse 22 has been interpreted a number of different ways over the years. Some have said that it is referring to Israel herself whom the Babylonians rejected and despised, yet later became the nation responsible for bringing the Saviour into the world. Others have said that it referred to king David who was rejected by his own brothers and his enemies, and hunted down by Saul, yet later became the king of Israel through whose line the Saviour would be born. And yet others have said that it was referring to an actual stone during the building of the second temple that was rejected and laid aside, yet later became the cornerstone of the temple. Given the context, it is the application to David which seems the more likely interpretation.
However, today, thousands of years later, we can look back and see a more important application of the verse. In Matthew 21:42 Jesus uses this verse to refer to Himself, He was the stone that the builders, namely the Jewish leaders of the day, rejected, yet He became the cornerstone of salvation. They rejected and crucified Him, but God raised Him up and exalted Him.
Note too that the rejection and salvation of the "stone" was the Lord's doing. It was not man that was trying to confound God's plans, but rather it was God doing all the work in the first place. God is the author and initiator of our salvation (see Isaiah 53:10; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28). God too has giving us the light (v27), for without it, we cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 4:4-6). God's plan of salvation is a stumbling-block to the proud, but a source of great joy to God's elect (1 Corinthians 1:18-31).
A Day to Rejoice About (v24)
The day referred to in verse 24 that we are to rejoice about, in context then, does not refer to every day of our lives. Even though we should be thanking God for every day in our lives because He does indeed give us each day, but in context with the rest of the Psalm, this is referring rather to the day of salvation. That day when the rejected stone became the cornerstone.
The day that Christ died on the cross was the day that the church was essentially born, the day the stone was rejected. But three days later, God raised up the rejected stone to become the cornerstone of the church when He raised Jesus from the dead.
Verse 27 tells us, God's way of salvation required the appropriate sacrifice upon His altar. Jesus who lived a perfect life was that sacrifice (see Hebrews 10:1-14). Though this sacrifice was for all who believe in Him collectively, it is also a sacrifice for each of us individually, because Jesus is our personal saviour.
Let us give thanks to God today for His gift of salvation to us. A gift so unique, that it confounds the world. A gift so special that it gives us joy. Let us raise our voices in thanksgiving for that special day:
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made,
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made.
Just a Thought!
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