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Psalm 115-118

Psalm 118:21-24, ”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.”

Think

Rejection. What a hurtful word! We’ve all experienced it in some form. Maybe you were the last kid picked when your peers chose teammates in a scrimmage. Perhaps you were stood up on a date, or your dearest friend suddenly ended the relationship. No matter the what or how it stings, it hits us at the deepest depths of our gut and shakes us to the core. When we’re hurt like this, we must remember that Jesus Himself experienced it to an unfathomable extent — His own chosen people, waiting with great hope for the Messiah, rejected Him as their Savior, the Almighty One who takes away the world’s sins.

Psalm 118 is as heartfelt as it is prophetic. It was sung on the way up to the temple to worship, praising God for His unending mercy and deliverance. Then in verses 22-23, it suddenly changes topics — it starts talking about failed construction! What?! Likely a reference to an occurrence that happened when King Solomon built the temple, the writer was also prophesying the finished work of Christ!

But why is Jesus called a cornerstone? In ancient structures, the cornerstone was a larger stone that joined two rows together for foundational support — just like Jesus does for us! He binds us to the Father. He connects heaven and earth, life and eternity. He is the supernatural glue that holds our lives together. And God did it! He orchestrated it all, knowing His only Son would face the ultimate rejection on earth! Through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, we have all the support we could ever ask for or imagine. Therefore, even in the face of horrific rejection or in the darkest of times, we still must rejoice with each new day — a gift from the Father — and be glad in it because we have a risen Savior who understands our hurt, brings hope to the hopeless and who loves us more than we could ever know!

Pray

Lord Jesus, Thank You for enduring the ultimate rejection on the cross for my sins and for defeating death to restore my relationship with the Father. You are my Cornerstone, my strength, and my foundation. I will rejoice in this day and be glad in it for Your glory! Amen.