The rejected stone
Like us today, most post-exilic Jews lived under pagan authorities who suppressed their faith. Recounting his rejection and rescue from death, the psalmist calls his people to faith in the God who is always on their side.
1 Give thanks to YHWH because he’s good.
His faithful love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say:
“His faithful love endures forever!”
3 Let the Aaronic priests say:
“His faithful love endures forever!”
4 Let all who revere YHWH say:
“His faithful love endures forever!”
5 Cornered, with no way out
I cried out to YHWH
and YHWH answered me
bringing me out into a wide-open space.
6 With YHWH for me
I’ve nothing to fear:
what can mere mortals do to me?
7 With YHWH on my side, helping me
I’ll be satisfied when I see
the downfall of those who hate me.
8 It’s better to take refuge in YHWH
than to put your trust in people.
9 It’s better to take refuge in YHWH
than to rely on the most powerful people around.
10 When hostile nations surrounded me
I defeated them in YHWH’s name.
11 When they surrounded me
totally surrounded me
I defeated them in YHWH’s name.
12 They surrounded me like a swarm of bees
only to burn up like dried thistles
as I defeated them in YHWH’s name.
13 Pushed hard, I was falling fast
but YHWH came to my rescue.
14 YHWH is my strength and my song—
he’s become my savior.
15 The camp of God-seekers
rings with shouts of joy and victory:
“YHWH’s strong hand struck the decisive blow!”
16 “YHWH’s strong hand is raised in victory!”
“YHWH’s strong hand decided the outcome!”
17 I’m not going to die!
I’ll live to tell what YHWH has done.
18 Though YHWH tested me to the limit
he didn’t hand me over to Death.
19 Swing wide the gates of goodness and justice
so I can enter in to thank YHWH.
20 This is the gate to YHWH’s house
the gate those who put their trust in God enter.
21 I praise you for answering my prayers
for rescuing me from death.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has now been made the capstone!
23 This is solely YHWH’s doing
and it’s astounding to see.
24 This is the day YHWH has made—
let’s celebrate and revel in what he’s done.
25 YHWH, we pray you’d rescue us!
YHWH, please make us flourish!
26 Blessed is the one who comes
in YHWH’s name.
We bless you from YHWH’s house.
27 YHWH is God
and he’s shone his light on us.
Line the path with festive branches
all the way to the horns of the altar.
28 You’re my God and I praise you.
You’re my God and I extol you!
29 Give thanks to YHWH because he’s good.
His faithful love endures forever!
We don’t know who wrote this psalm or when it was written. But clearly, a psalm recounting the psalmist’s deliverance from pagans threatening him would have thoroughly encouraged post-exilic Jews, living under pagans who suppressed their faith. With no way out, the psalmist thought he was going to die. Then God, whose gracious love is unfailing, showed up to turn the tide, enabling the psalmist to defeat his foes.
This led to exuberant celebration in God’s camp. Returning home, the psalmist calls out for Jerusalem’s gates to open so he can praise God and tell his people what God has done for him and what he’s learned in the process. Namely, that he should neither fear what people can do to him, nor hang his hopes on what people can do for him. Ultimately, he must revere and trust God, who alone is his savior and his song.
The psalm’s last section gives the community’s response to the psalmist. Since the reversal of his fortunes was entirely God’s doing, his people recognize the psalmist has been blessed by God. They exclaim that God has taken the stone the builders considered worthless and made it the building’s one indispensable stone, exalted above all others. Rejoicing in God’s favor, they embrace him as their God, ask him for ongoing success, and give him their wholehearted praise.
Not surprisingly, Jesus applied verses 22-23 to himself in the gospels (e.g., Mt. 21:42). He knew his rejection by the nation’s religious leaders was only preliminary to God’s exaltation of him to the place of highest honor. When we are wrongfully rejected, we can take comfort in the fact that we’re in good company and, like Jesus, we can look to God to give us his place for us in the temple he is building.
How easily I vacilate between fearing people and looking to people to save me, Jesus. But you release me to flourish in your chosen place—you take the stone the builders deemed worthless and glorify it in your temple. Help me to trust your faithful love alone. Amen.
In your free moments today, meditate on these words:
Give thanks to YHWH because he’s good
and his faithful love endures forever!
