Psalm 118: 17 -29: Divine intervention.(click here for todays passage)

As we saw previously, this psalm was written by someone who came perilously close to dying, but God intervened and rescued him. The psalmist recognised that God had used his recent suffering to discipline him (18), and we may feel the same about the trials we go through

The psalm closes (29) as it opened (1). It is an expression of profound thankfulness.

In (22-24), the psalmist, who may have been the king or some other leader, refers to himself as the ‘’stone’ who had been ‘’rejected’’. He had come so close to experiencing a disastrous defeat. Enemy kings, we might say, had ‘rejected’ him. But the Lord had saved him and made him the ‘’capstone’’. He had elevated him to a very important position. He had lifted him higher than these other kings, so that he was in a position of triumph over them.

‘’What the psalmist pictures for us in verses 22-23 is a marvellous reversal of circumstances: from imminent defeat to glorious victory, from humiliation to exaltation. And this is why Jesus applied these verses to Himself (see Mark 12:1-12), as did other New Testament writers (Acts 4:8-12; 1 Peter 2:7). Jesus suffered rejection by man, but God accepted Him and made Him the ‘’capstone.’’ No one has ever experienced a greater reversal of circumstances than Jesus did.’’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p.909. (It is interesting to think that this may be one of the psalms Jesus sang with his disciples before going out to the Garden of Gethsemane.)

Ever since Jesus’ death and resurrection, every day is ‘the day of salvation’ for those who trust in Him (24). It’s a new day, and it’s a great day! It is such a joyful day.

In (25-29) the psalmist speaks on behalf of the people who are celebrating the arrival of their victorious king in the temple court: ‘’Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD’’ (26). Centuries later these same words were used by citizens of Jerusalem to welcome the Messiah, Jesus (Mark 11:9).

‘’The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! This is GOD’s work. We rub our eyes – we can hardly believe it! This is the very day GOD acted – let’s celebrate and be festive!’’ The Message.

Let what God did for this king, and ultimately for Jesus, speak to you. There is no mess you are in that He can’t get you out of, should He choose to exert His power on your behalf. And like this psalmist, you can call on Him in your day of trouble.

‘’Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures for ever.’’