The Chief Cornerstone
Psalm 118
Rev. Dr. Devadosan Sugirtharaj
Introduction
- In Ezra 3:10-11, Psalm 118 was sung at the founding of the Second Temple.
- King David was the author of this Psalm.
- This is Martin Luther’s most favorable psalm in the book of Psalms.
1. Praise the Lord for His great mercy and redemption. Psalm 118:1-18
- Call to declare the Lord’s ever-ending mercy. Psalm 118:1-4
- Psalmist begins the call for the people of God to thank Him for his goodness and mercy, standing forever. He uses 34 times of the phrase ‘ For His mercy endures forever’ to emphasize the lovingkindness of God. He uses this call to worship to appreciate the great acts of God together. He invites the people of Israel, the priests of the house of Aaron and even Gentiles to honor God by singing the chorus ‘His mercy endures forever’.
- Testimony to declare the Lord’s ever-ending mercy. Psalm 118:5-9
- The psalmist cried to the Lord when he was in distress and God answered to his cry and set a secure and broad place where he would confidently stand. By knowing that God was on his side, he lived free from the fear of man. He was fearless when he trusted the Lord, and he testified that it is better to trust God.
- Experience to declare the Lord’s help when he was surrounded by enemies. Psalm 118:10-14
- The psalmist recalled that all nations surrounded him like bees. He did not trust himself but trusted the Lord to declare boldly that he would destroy them like a fire of thorns. Through this experience, he declared that the Lord is his strength, song, and salvation as Miriam sang in Exodus 15:20.
- Rejoice to declare the Lord’s redemption from death. Psalm 118:15-18
- When the psalmist received God’s wonderful redemption, he gave voice to his joy. The tabernacle is mentioned as the tents of the righteous where the joyful song is sung to the Lord. This is psalm is sung during the Feast of Tabernacle. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly to rescue His people so that he may not die but live to declare the works of the Lord. In the present crisis, God makes a training and corrective purpose in the life of the singer even to the extend of pain leading to death.
2. Song of the Great Redeemer. Psalm 118:19-29
- Open the gates of righteousness. Psalm 118:19-20
- The psalmist imagined his triumphal entry into the holy city, through opened gates and praised God. He declare the Lord’s great works for the righteous.
- Amazing chief cornerstone. Psalm 118:21-24
- The psalmist openly praised God for the salvation. He sang this song of praise when passing into the holy city. The city of Jerusalem was built as the city rejected but it became the chief cornerstone of David’s Kingdom. It was done by the Lord. The chief cornerstone was an important stone that held two rows of stones together in a corner and stablished the stones at the foundation. Isaiah 28:16. It was the Lord’s doing and it becomes marvelous in our eyes. So the day that the Lord has made is this amazing day and the psalmist calls us to rejoice and glad in it. It is a prophetic message for Christ in the New Testament.
- Sacrifice bound to the altar. Psalm 118:25-29
- The psalmist sings the chorus as a prayer to the Lord to save. The ceremony of song is to welcome God’s redeemer through the open gates into Jerusalem and receive Him to the house of the Lord as the blessed one coming in the name of the Lord. Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. It is fulfilled on the day Jesus entered the city. Following this prayer and blessing, he calls to bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar as God is the Lord. He ends with praise and giving thanks to the Lord, for He is good and mercy endures forever.
Conclusion
This psalm tells us how we are called to respond to God, who redeems us from troubles and enemies. He calls us to praise God for what He does in our lives. He also calls us to give praise to God by giving ourselves. God is our cornerstone. He makes the day of redemption so that we may rejoice and be glad in it.