Christ the Cornerstone

Thanksgiving is the most natural communication by the Christian toward Yahweh, the God of Israel, whose love for His chosen people, from every nation, is everlasting (Ps 118:2, 3, 4). The psalmist in Psalm 118 is a realist. Trouble surrounds God’s people; but it is always the right time to give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love.

The enemies of Yahweh are identified as the nations (v. 10). The Bible assures God’s people that friendship with the world is unwise, even enmity (1 Jn 2:15). Opposition to God’s people should be expected by those who trust in Him (Jn 15:18–25; 16:33). When tribulations ensue and God’s chosen ones are in distress, we are to pray to the God of our salvation, who is mighty to save.

God sent His only begotten Son into the world to deliver us with His strong right hand (118:15–16; Jn 3:16). Our strong Deliverer is a valiant warrior who cuts off the wicked with perfect justice (Gen 18:25). He is the dread champion who saves and who judges (Jer 20:11; Jn 5:22). We, who are called by His name, will tell of His mighty works (118:18). He has done great things for His beloved, His church, the Israel of God (Is 49:1–6; Gal 6:16).

If God is with us and for us, then who can be against us (Rom 8:31)? In this perverse generation (Acts 2:40; Phil 2:15), operating in the present evil age (Gal 1:4), those who love darkness ally against the children of light because they hate the Light of the world, Jesus Christ (Jn 8:12; 9:5). He has given us light (118:27). Children of the devil oppress the sons of God by extension (Mt 5:10–12; Jn 15:18–25; 1 Jn 3:10). They hate God (Rom 1:30), hate Jesus without a cause (Jn 15:25), and they hate those who have the Spirit of Christ indwelling them (Ps 2:7; Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11).

Opposition from the unbelievers helps the children of God to learn discipline (Heb 12:4–11). God, our Father, has each Christian on a course of suffering in the domain of darkness (Col 1:13), as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20). The Bible assures us that God’s love for His own can never fail (1 Cor 13:8). Those who fear the Lord have right standing with Yahweh (Dt 13:4; Eccl 12:13).

The righteous are in right relationship with the Redeemer (2 Cor 5:21). They have entered the gates of righteousness (118:20). They occupy the shelter of the Lord. He is their refuge, the city of God’s protective presence. The chosen, redeemed, regenerated people sing praises to the God of their salvation…from the house of the Lord (118:26).

Messiah came to the Hebrew people. He came forth from Yahweh, but they did not receive their champion when He walked among them (Jn 1:11, 14). He was despised and rejected by the Jews (Is 53). God, however, took this stone of offense and made Him to be the chief stone (118:22); the cornerstone upon which His church would be built (Mt 16:18). The building project continues, today (Eph 2:20–22).

Our Deliverer is coming, again (Rev 19:11–21). He made peace on His first entrance into the world He Himself created and that He sustains by the word of his power (Col 1:16–17; Heb 1:2–3). He is with us in the Spirit, who was sent to us as a token of His love (2 Cor 5:5), a pledge of our inheritance, which is reserved for us in heaven (1 Pet 1:4), where He is seated at the right hand of Majesty (Heb 1:3; 8:1).

When Jesus Christ comes again, in power to judge the living and the dead (2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11), He will raise the entirety of humanity from the dead (Jn 5:28–29). The Lord knows those who are His because each one was given to Him by God the Father before the creation (Jn 17:2, 6, 24; 18:9; 2 Tim 1:9). Jesus suffered and died to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). His motive in redemption was love (Jn 15:13). Thus, we who have one Lord, one Spirit give thanks to Jesus for giving Himself in death for us (Jn 10:11, 15; 1 Cor 15:3). He took our place of punishment for sin (1 Pet 2:24). He endured the wrath of God for the joy of eternal communion with His beloved that was set before Him (Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 12:2; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10).

The true believer in Jesus Christ is not ashamed to identify with the One who loved him or her; and who gave Himself to set His people free from bondage to sin, death, the devil, and his world system in rebellion against Yahweh (Rom 1:16–17). It is right to give our Lord Jesus Christ thanks and praise. We proclaim Him and tell of His infinite excellencies (Col 1:28; 1 Pet 2:9).

Blessed is He who came in the name of the Yahweh (118:26); and blessed is He who will soon appear again in radiant glory. As His Spirit gathers His elect into the family of God, let us serve the living God (1 Thess 1:9; Heb 9:14), in the power that works mightily in us (Col 1:29), who preserves us in this life and in the world to come (Rom 8:31–39).

Psalm 118 teaches us Christ, our cornerstone (c/f Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10; Lk 20:17; Acts 4:11). The temple of God is being built up in the Spirit (Eph 2:20–22). Let us be the living stones who cry out to God by faith in prayer (1 Pet 2:4–5). Let us also be the ones who bear witness of Christ, having received and been filled with His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; Rom 8:9, 11).

May our prayers of thanksgiving and supplications for kingdom prosperity and protection be in faith and in the hope of His glorious appearing. Never forget, His lovingkindness is everlasting (118:29). He is forever with us, in discipline, and in the dark days when we most need deliverance.

The Lord Himself is our salvation (Ex 15:2; Ps 27:1; 118:14). He alone is who we trust to deliver us (118:8), today, and for eternity. Bless the Lord! Praise Him! For He is standing by (Mt 24:36), in wisdom and power (1 Cor 1:24), for the appointed day. He will never break His promise (2 Cor 1:20). He has written in the sky, on the pages of Scripture, and on the hearts of His people, Israel, Christ’s church.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

October 17, 2024

Psalm 118