REJECTION-Psalm 118

[7 questions below.]

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love [ḥeseḏ, 5x–2, 3, 4, 29] endures forever” (Ps 118:1, 29; 106:1; 136:1). “The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death” (Ps 118:18). “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Ps 118:22-23). “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you” (Ps 118:26).

Martin Luther: “This is my own beloved psalm. Although the entire Psalter and all of Holy Scripture are dear to me as my only comfort and source of life, I fell in love with this psalm especially. Therefore I call it my own. When emperors and kings, the wise and the learned, and even saints could not aid me, this psalm proved a friend and helped me out of many great troubles. As a result, it is dearer to me than all the wealth, honor, and power of the pope, the Turk, and the emperor. I would be most unwilling to trade this psalm for all of it.”

Psalm 118 is often used to herald Easter, with the verse “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Ps 118:24). The early church remembered Jesus’ rejection, suffering and persecution in the words of this psalm. Psalm 118 is the most-quoted psalm in the NT: quoted 24x in the NT, with 11 quotations and 13 allusions. [In the Gospels, royal-messianic psalms like Psalms 110 and 118 are often quoted in the context of Jesus’ kingship, while laments and suffering psalms like Psalms 22 and 31 are quoted in the context of his suffering and death.]

Psalm 118 is the climax of the Egyptian Hallel psalms (113-118). The Hallel psalsms [the “Great Hallel“ (120-136) and the concluding Hallel psalms (146-150)] are to praise [hallel] the Lord. The Egyptian and Great Hallel [most are pilgrimage songs] were sung during the annual feasts [Passover, Pentacost {Feast of Weeks} and the Feast of Booths]. The Egyptian Hallel had a special place in the Passover lithurgy to remember the rescue of Israel at the exodus, and the eventual journey’s end at Mt. Zion:

• 113-114 were recited or sung before the festival meal.
• 115-118 after (Mt 26:30; Mk 14:26).

The concluding Hallel psalms (146-150) were incorporated in the daily prayers of the synagogue after the destruction of the temple (AD 70).

1. What is the call, command and instruction for all 3 categories of God’s people (Ps 118:1-4; 115:9-11)?
2. When helplessly hard-pressed what did the psalmist do and realize (Ps 118:5-7; 116:3-4)? What is his confident declaration (Ps 118:8-9)? Why (Ps 118:1; Rom 8:28)? How do you practically trust God when there’s no way out (Ps 118:8-9; Prov 3:5-6; Isa 53:7; Heb 12:2)?
3. How dire was his situation (Ps 118:10-13)? Who did he fully rely on (Ps 118:10, 11, 13)? Why (Ps 118:14)?
4. Who are those that God grants joy and victory to (Ps 118:15-16)? What was his purpose for living (Ps 118:17)? What was the reason for his hardship (Ps 118:18; 119:67, 75, 92)?
5. Who has to open “the gate of the Lord” (Ps 118:19; Jn 10:2-3, 7)? Who may enter (Ps 118:20; Rev 21:27)? What is the result (Ps 118:21)?
6. Who are the builders who rejected the stone (Ps 118:22a; Isa 28:14)? What is the cornerstone (Isa 28:16)? Who did it foreshadow (Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10; Lk 20:17; Ac 4:11; Rom 9:32; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:7)? Why is this a marvellous day of rejoicing (Ps 118:23-24; Isa 43:11-12; 45:5-6; 46:9, 13; Ac 4:12)?
7. What should be our constant prayer (Ps 118:25)? Why is the Lord’s coming a blessing (Ps 118:26-27; Mt 21:9; 23:39; Mk 11:9; Lk 19:38; 13:35; Jn 12:13) and the ultimate cause for thanksgiving (Ps 118:28-29, 1; 1 Cor 15:3-5; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13)?

• What can you learn about how to deal with hardship, adversity and painfully difficult circumstances? How does this help you to handle the challenges you are facing?
• What practical steps could you take this week to trust God with your needs each day?