THE REJECTED STONE EXALTED
Lesson 15
Psalm 118:19–24
Most scholars believe that this Psalm was written after the exile when Israel again came to their own land and the temple had been rebuilt. It was a very important song for Israel’s liturgy because it expressed certain things which had not been spoken of before. There are many repetitions in this Psalm. “Let Israel say, let the house of Aaron say, let them that fear Jehovah say” and “they compassed me about, all nations compassed me about, they compassed me about like bees” etc. The Psalm is written in this for in because different groups would sing and others would answer. Psalm 118 was one of several for the antiphonal singing.
The New Temple
As the temple was being completed in the days of Zerubabel, there were still people who remembered the gorgeous temple of Solomon. To them this new temple after the captivity appeared to be a poor shadow of the temple which Israel had once enjoyed. But, they must realize that this is the gate, the gate
.of righteousness that leads into the presence of God! The temple of stone is not the important thing, but what goes on in this temple. There the sacrifices are to be brought. This temple, though it does not seem to be as splendid as its predecessor, will also be the way of approach to the living God. Let the people realize that this is indeed the gate of Jehovah. Let them see to it that they themselves are righteous so that they may be able to enter this gate which leads into His presence of the Righteous One. Despite all the troubles which have happened to this people, there is abundant reason for gratitude. The Lord had brought them back from captive lands. He has again given them a place to stand. Salvation has been given this people. If they share in this salvation they have everything. Now He has permitted them to build this temple. It may not be as fine in appearance as the former one-let them dry their eyes and look to Him in thanksgiving for all that He has done. The Psalmist realizes this and urges himself as well as all the people to give thanks to God! God has indeed answered the prayers of His people. He has made all things well. They will have to begin anew, but, they may begin!
The Corner Stone
It is especially the 22nd verse of this Psalm which calls for the larger share of our attention. It is primarily this verse which makes Psalm 118 a Messianic Psalm. Surely, it has reference to Israel first of all. That Israel which had virtually ceased existing as a nation when it was taken into captivity is now being restored. It is the nation which has been rejected by the other nations of the world so that it does not even count among the nations. However, it was the people whom He had chosen, and He always remembers His covenant. Perhaps the other nations will not give Israel a place among them, not even a minor place. God, however, has a purpose with this people and will give it the place of prominence. That is the place it has occupied in spite of its small size. No, don’t come with the argument that the nations around Israel do not do the building and therefore also do not do the rejecting! These words of this verse have virtually become a proverb in Israel. This is the way God will ultimately deal with His people. He deals with them in the very opposite way from the way which men have dealt with them.
Christ Himself quotes these words as having reference to Himself (Matt. 21:42, Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17). In each one of these instances He has described the way in which tenants have dealt with the vineyard and then the way in which they have dealt with the Son of the owner. Peter, when he is making his defence before the rulers of the Jews also refers to this verse and applies it to Jesus (Acts 4:11). He refers to these words once more in his first general epistle (chapter 2) and there shows how His people are built on the Christ. Paul too makes reference to this passage in Romans 9:33 where he also shows how the Israel of God is built on the foundation, Jesus Christ. Obviously this verse has played an important role in the thinking of God’s people, revealing the place which Christ will occupy in the economy of God.
Discarded
Looking at these words more closely, we realize that the picture drawn is one of builders seeking out the proper stones for the building of the temple of God. They come to this stone, which is the Messiah, and they cannot see how this one can fit into the building and be of service there. As a result, they discard it again and again, much as one would reject a piece of a puzzle which he cannot seem to fit into the whole picture he is making. This, says Jesus, is exactly what has happened to Him. The rulers of the Jews, those who were entrusted with the building of the Israel of God, rejected Him. Peter emphasizes this same truth before the Sanhedrin. They had not recognized Him as Messiah; they did not even recognize Him as a worthy son of Israel, and therefore cast Him out. These were the men who had great responsibilities. They had to see to it that the vineyard would be profitable for its Owner. They thought that it would detract from the profitability of the vineyard if they allowed Him in. He was in their estimation the total misfit. They couldn’t use Him anywhere. The leaders of His day did not consider Him a fit member of the church of that day. They took extreme measures to show their displeasure with Him and “excommunicated” Him by sending Him to an accursed death! The rejection of verse 22 is therefore not to be taken lightly. It was a conscious rejection! They could not see how He could have a place in that building of God which they were erecting. They ousted Him as a blasphemer.
“Head of the Corner”
Now a most astounding thing happens. While the builders had not considered Him as a fit stone in any part of the building, He is made the “head of the corner.” Much has been written about cornerstones. The Bible also often refers to them. It is difficult to determine exactly what the function of a cornerstone was. Some say that the entire building rested on it, and the Bible at times seems to point in that direction. However, that is not the usual meaning; nor is it the meaning it has today. The cornerstone is the stone which binds two walls together and determines the angle of these walls. It is one of the most important stones in a building—and, it may even be said that it is the most important one. Accordingly, the stone which was rejected because it was a misfit by the builders, is nevertheless the most important stone in that building and they will never be able to complete that building without this particular stone! How did they stumble on this truth? Was it by trial and error? No, they never came to the conclusion that this One should have this place. Someone else stepped in and took over. The Owner for Whom they were building this building. The One Whose vineyard it was stepped in and exacted proper workmanship from these so-called builders. It is Jehovah’s doing! No one can understand it. It is marvelous in our eyes. Who had ever understood the way of salvation? No one! That the promised salvation had to come about in this way—no one had dreamed. How could Jesus go from suffering into glory? How could He repudiate the ways of the leaders of the people and still be the Messiah for Whom they had longed?
The Lord’s Doing
With the placing of this cornerstone, the building is complete. Isaiah had spoken of the fact that God would lay a precious stone in Zion and that the further building would be upon this stone (Isaiah 28:16). The Apostles also play on this same theme. He is the foundation stone on which the people of God will be built. So the church comes into being. Israel, the true Israel of God, owes its very existence to Him. Here again we are reminded of the fact that salvation is of Jehovah. It has not been thought out by man. The leaders, the religious leaders, stand amazed at the ways of God! He seems to go in a direction which is the very opposite of the one they would have chosen. And, these leaders were serious. They sought the welfare of Zion, as they saw that welfare!
Having seen the wonderful works of God, how He has reached down into the history of our redemption, the Psalmist concludes this beautiful passage by singing the praises of this God. This is the day which Jehovah hath made. The writer of this Psalm has seen the salvation of God’s people completed. When that occurs he rejoices with unspeakable joy. Salvation gives the greatest reason for joy; in fact, if there is no salvation there is no rejoicing at all. The world of unbelief may think that they can rejoice, but, their happiness is empty, it is vanity. Jehovah has seen to it that this day might come. He is the Author of all the blessings of this day. To Him thanks must be given. The writer finds it necessary to remind himself of the fact that he should rejoice and be glad in this day of salvation. Salvation is often taken for granted. Should we be thankful for material things? Of course. Thankful for life and health? Of course. But, to be thankful for salvation we must look deeply into the ways of God and see the marvelous things which He has done.
There have been various types of the Christ in the Old Testament. Israel itself is also a type of Christ. That Israel of God had been rejected by all men, but not by its God. Even the leaders of God’s people were going to reject His Son, but God intervened. What they did not recognize, He had sent for their life and their salvation!
These leaders may well have wrestled with God in their prayers on Easter morning. What would now become of Israel seeing this troubler of Israel had escaped them? Later many of the priests also believed on Him, thank God!
Jehovah did not follow the route they would have chosen. But, only His route leads home!
Questions for discussion
1. How important is it for a church to sing the Psalms? What are churches who sing only hymns missing? Explain.
2. The building of the new temple after the captivity proceeded amid great difficulty. The prophet Haggai told the people that they would have no prosperity until they built the house of God. How important is the house of God today for our general welfare? 3. Why would the builders reject the stone mentioned in vs. 22? Did “He” not immediately present Himself to the people as the all–together lovely One. 4. How do the words of Psalm 118:22 remind you of Psalm 2? 5. When the Christ has been assigned His proper position the people are able to rejoice. How does this hold true in the preaching of the Word.
THE RESTORATION OF TRUE WORSH IP
Lesson 16
Psalm 132
The Absent Ark
The Psalm alludes to the happenings with the ark of God when it was taken from its rightful place and was placed in an individual home for a long time. Eli’s sons were wayward. They had not taken proper care of the ark—the symbol of the presence of God. These priests had even given in to the false notion which was found among some of the people, that if they would take the ark into battle, God would be compelled to fight for Himself, seeing He dwelt in the ark. God had revealed to them that this was a totally erroneous view. He did not fight for Himself! Nor did He fight for Israel. Israel’s enemies were victorious and even captured the ark! How will God dwell with His people when there is neither tabernacle nor temple and when the ark is even missing? Surely, Israel could not expect to prosper under those conditions.
David’s Concern
In these circumstances David now appears as the hero of God’s people. He is going to build a place for the ark and he is going to bring the ark home. This was at some cost, but David is the true son of his God and he will do everything possible to achieve his goal. He is not going to give himself rest until this hope is accomplished. Here is the man who will fall into the mold of those whom Haggai had addressed concerning the necessity of rebuilding the temple. David will take no rest until it is accomplished. He has sworn to this. This is the man after God’s own heart. He has found David and has chosen him as His Theocratic king.
The ark had been placed in a private home after the Philistines had had no end of trouble because of the ark of God. Dagon, their god, had been badly bruised because of the ark. When they sought to send it back to Israel they encountered difficulties. Finally it is placed in the home of Obed Edom and that house is greatly blest. This house was located in the region of Ephratah, a region which also contained the town of Bethlehem. God called both the Ark of the Covenant and His Son out of Ephratah. There, in the field of the wood, not in a glamorous palace but in a very ordinary house is found the ark of God.
Restored Fellowship with God
Now the Psalmist breaks out in song. The ark has been placed on Mount Zion, where God had appeared to David after the destruction of so many thousands in Israel because of King David’s sin. The people will now have access to this holy place where their God dwells. This is their clear intention; they will go into His tabernacle and worship at His footstool.
But, the important thing is not that there is a place where the people of God can go to bring worship to Him; the important thing is that God Himself will make His abode there. Let it not only be a resting place for the ark which symbolized His presence, but, let God Himself be there. The welfare of His people is so wrapped up in the presence of God that the Psalmists sing of this time and again. He and His people must be together. They belong together. There where the ark is now residing and where God Himself has made His abode is the place where the people will come to bring their worship. The ark will now be brought to Zion in the proper way with the proper words spoken over it (Numbers 10:35) God had indeed impressed upon the people that they mav not deal with holy things as they see fit. Carelessness about that was the reason why H e had killed Uzza (2 Sam. 6). When the ark comes to Zion they must not make the mistake of the past and allow men such as the sons of Eli to minister in the presence of the ark of God. That is where all their difficulties had begun! These men, though they were descendants of Aaron had no right to the priesthood. There are many today that have no right to handle holy things because they do not regard them with fear and respect. Instead, let thy priests be clothed with righteousness! Let them live their profession. Let them not teach one thing and live another! Let them be honest! Then the saints will shout for joy. They will then possess those things which are the dearest to them. They will have a place where they may go to serve the living God and they will there receive the spiritual service of His priests of their edification! Until these requirements are met, His people cannot be at rest, they cannot be satisfied. But, when the promises are fulfilled His people will have everything they ever desired. True priests will serve the true God and the joy of the people will be evident in the fact that they will not despise His service but will rejoice in it.
The Future Hope
The Psalmist now approaches his topic from a different point of view. Where he had spoken of the fact that in the past all things had been rectified and that the ark of the covenant was no longer found in a heathen land, he now prays to his God that He will continue indefinitely the beautiful relationship which has been established with His people. God has sworn with an oath that He will remember His covenant which He had made with David. Others will arise after David has departed this life who will not share his deep piety and righteous judgment. This prompts the prayer, “Lord, remember the eternal covenant made with David!” The singer is also confident that his God will remain faithful to the oath He has once sworn. If he did not have this confidence, his own spiritual life would suffer greatly. His God is the God who does not change while everything else is subject to the ravages of time.
Man’s Responsibility
Whenever we are reminded in the Scriptures that we are dealing with a faithful, covenant-keeping God, we are also reminded of the fact that in all covenants there are contained two parts. In Psalm 132 the poet will not elaborate on this, he will bring it to our attention. The promise of kingship which He has made to David is also made to David’s house. It will be a dynasty. However, there is a condition: “If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore.” How the house of David slides farther and farther away from the truth. How many of those who later sat on his throne were apostate! But Israel had been assured that the government would not depart from this particular house until the Messiah should come! How long-suffering God is! Even an Ahaz does not cause Him to turn His back on the house of David. Even though a Manasseh sacrifices his own children to heathen idols, God remembers the covenant He made with David! It is because of the loving kindnesses of our God that we have not been consumed. His mercies extend far beyond the present generation. His covenant stands—and the demands of that covenant also stand!
Although a long time passed before God’s announced purpose was realized in history, God had chosen Zion, that hill, that mount of David, as the place where the tabernacle and later the temple were to be situated. The people would not listen but rebelled again and again. God desires to have His house in the same place where the palace of the theocratic king stands. These two belong together! Here He will dwell. This will be the place of the temple forever. Israel had to see to it that the ark was brought here where He wanted it to be.
When this restoration on Mount Zion occurs, many other blessings will result from following the way of Jehovah. God will abundantly provide the people with all the material things which are necessary for them. This comes from the right relationship of God to His people. Material prosperity has religious foundations! Her poor shall be satisfied with bread. In other words, there will be no truly poor. He will take care of that! In the law of Moses it had been made very clear to Israel that there would be no poor in Israel if they would keep His Commandments. Yet, we read several times that the people left (the land “flowing with milk and honey”) because of famine! The church today must again witness to the law of God and urge men to keep it for their own moral, material and social welfare. The church which loudly proclaims that we are finished with the law has no message for the men of today.
The people had uttered a very sincere prayer in verse 9 that the priests of God might be clothed with righteousness and that the saints might shout for joy. In verse 16 the Lord gives an answer to this prayer. The people have prayed in the proper way, but He always gives more than they even think to ask. He says that He will clothe His priests with salvation! Through their labors salvation shall be made known to His people. They are, as it were, the dispensers of salvation. So much rests on the proper work of the priests. Not only does He clothe His priests with salvation, He also gives His people full reason to shout for joy. His people can only rejoice when their worship of their God is accepted!
The poet is not going to allow the reason for the shout of joy on the part of His people to remain obscure. He says the reason why His people are able to rejoice is the fact that the house of David will be much more glorious in the future than it ever has been in the past. The light which shines from this throne is going to be far more brilliant in the future. No one shall be able to stand before this Kingship. Now it is no more the house of David which is praised, the vision of the poet goes much farther. The things he says in the concluding words of this Psalm can never be said about any kingly house on this earth. The Messiah will come from this line. In His day that Kingship will be all-glorious. In the Messiah all God’s promises will be realized. Also, in the Messiah all the hopes of God’s people will be realized.
Having come to the end of this study on the Messianic Psalms, it is the sincere hope of the author that those who have used these lessons this year, or will use them in the future, will have seen how the glorious fulfillment of all the hopes of the redeemed of the Old Testament find their foundation in Jesus Christ. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Questions for discussion:
1. Why do you think the Old Testament devotes so much space to the desire of David to build Him a house; the desire left unfulfilled; and the actual building of the temple by Solomon?
2. How can we plead on God’s covenant promises?
3. How dependent were the people on their priests for their spiritual welfare? How dependent are we on faithful ministers for this same welfare?
4. On what basis does God allow the Kingdom of Judah to continue while they had godless kings? Does this give you any hint as to the reason why He does not act as quickly as we often think He should?
5. Did it make any difference where the temple would be built? How do you harmonize what is said in this Psalm and what we read in John 4?
6. Can we expect any blessings when our spiritual life is not right? Does the world have any claim on the favor of God.