The rejected stone
Like us today, the post-exilic Jews were dominated by pagan authorities bent on suppressing them. The psalmist recounts his rescue from death to assure his people that God is on their side and call them to faith.
1 Give thanks to Yahveh because he’s good
and his faithful love always prevails!
2 Let Israel say:
“His faithful love always prevails!”
3 Let the priests of Aaron say:
“His faithful love always prevails!”
4 Let all who revere Yahveh say:
“His faithful love always prevails!”
5 Cornered, with nowhere to turn
I cried out to Yahveh
and Yahveh answered me
bringing me out into unhindered freedom.
6 With Yahveh for me
I’m not afraid—
what can mere mortals do to me?
7 With Yahveh right beside me
supporting me
I can already see my enemies’ downfall.
8 It’s better to take refuge in Yahveh
than to put your trust in people.
9 It’s better to take refuge in Yahveh
than to rely on the most powerful people around.
10 When all the pagan nations surrounded me
I defeated them in Yahveh’s name.
11 When they surrounded me
totally surrounded me
I defeated them in Yahveh’s name.
12 They surrounded me like a swarm of bees
only to burn up like dried thistles
as I defeated them in Yahveh’s name.
13 Pushed hard, I was falling fast
but Yahveh came to my rescue.
14 Yahveh is my strength and my song—
he’s become my savior.
15 The camp of God-seekers
rings with shouts of joy and victory:
“Yahveh’s strong hand struck the decisive blow!”
16 “Yahveh’s strong hand is raised in victory!”
“Yahveh’s strong hand decided the outcome!”
17 I’m not going to die!
I’ll live to tell what Yahveh has done.
18 Though Yahveh 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 Yahveh.
20 This is the gate to Yahveh’s house
the gate those who rely on God enter.
21 I praise you for answering my prayers
for rescuing me from death.
22 The stone the builders threw away
has now been made the capstone!
23 This was entirely Yahveh’s doing
and it was astonishing to see.
24 This is the day Yahveh has made—
let’s celebrate and revel in what he’s done.
25 Yahveh, we pray you’d rescue us!
Yahveh, please make us flourish!
26 Blessed is the one who comes
in Yahveh’s name.
We bless you from Yahveh’s house.
27 Yahveh 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 Yahveh because he’s good
and his faithful love always prevails!
Regardless of when this psalm was written, any psalm recounting the psalmist’s deliverance from pagans threatening him would have really encouraged post-exilic Jews, living under ongoing oppression. With no way out, the psalmist was pushed so hard he thought he was going to die. Then his good God, whose gracious love is unstoppable, showed up to turn the tide, enabling the psalmist to defeat his foes.
This naturally 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 and what he’s taught him. 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 he’s been blessed by God. They exclaim that God has taken the stone the builders spurned as useless and made it the building’s one indispensable stone, exalted above the rest. Rejoicing in God’s favor, they also ask him for ongoing success, and embrace him wholeheartedly as their God.
Lord, I easily alternate between fearing people to looking to others to save me. But you’re the one who takes me from being cornered to breathing free in your appointed place—who takes the stone the builders discarded as worthless and glorifies it in your temple. I worship you, O God. Amen.
In your free moments today, meditate on these words:
Give thanks to Yahveh because he’s good
and his faithful love always prevails!
