JUNE 13
Psalm 118:22-23, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Psalm 118 is a triumphant song of thanksgiving and victory. It celebrates God’s steadfast love and His power to deliver His people from distress. The psalm opens and closes with a joyful refrain: “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 118:1, 29)
At its heart lies a profound message of reversal and redemption, powerfully captured in our verses. A passage that is amongst the most quoted Old Testament passage found in the New Testament. But what’s the meaning?
In ancient construction, especially in temple and palace building, stones were carefully inspected by builders. If a stone was misshapen, cracked, or didn’t appear useful, it was cast aside. But on rare occasions, a stone that was once rejected was later recognized as the perfect fit—particularly as the cornerstone, the most essential and load-bearing stone in the entire structure.
To say that a rejected stone becomes the cornerstone is to say that what seemed useless or unworthy was, in the end, most essential. Originally, these words likely applied to Israel or to King David—once rejected but later chosen by God. But the New Testament reveals a deeper fulfillment: Jesus quoted this verse (Matthew 21:42) to describe Himself. He was the stone rejected by the religious “builders” of Israel—dismissed, betrayed, and crucified. Yet in His resurrection, He became the cornerstone of the church in God’s redemptive plan. The apostles echoed this truth in Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7.
What others rejected, God exalted. Jesus—despised, condemned, and crucified—has become the cornerstone of salvation. There is no other name by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). In a world that still largely rejects Him, we are reminded that our faith must rest in Him alone.
“Christ is the cornerstone rejected by the builders, but chosen and precious to God. In Him alone is our salvation and our firm foundation.” — Charles Spurgeon
Application questions: What makes what God did so marvelous? Have you seen God take something that seemed worthless or broken in your life and turn it into something beautiful? How does knowing that God is able to do such thing work to encourage your faith?
LookingtoJesus 