Psalm 118:19–24 (ESV)
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Devotional Reflection
This Psalm envisions the day of the Lord's salvation. It describes a procession led by the rightful and righteous King--great David's greater son. At his command, the gates open. Though he has been regarded as a rejected stone by the builders (i.e., those who were thought to be the "experts"), this King has come into the city to inaugurate the new work that God is doing--presenting himself as the chief cornerstone. Every other stone in this new building will be laid only in relationship to this Righteous One who ,as the cornerstone, unites every other stone together. The response of the people is awe and wonder which erupts into rejoicing. This day of salvation is not the work of man--it is God's doing. That's why it is so marvelous. God's work can never fail.
Peter picks up on much of this imagery in his epistle. Speaking of Jesus, Peter declares that Jesus is the cornerstone of God great work of salvation--the Church. Through Jesus, we individual stones are being set into place and carefully arranged as God builds us into one spiritual house of faith. This work is God's work--from start to finish. We are passive recipients of the favor that he, the master builder, has shown by choosing to incorporate us into this new creation. That's what grace is all about. God's favor shown to us on account of Christ--the Cornerstone who unites us to God and to one another. It is never our work. We can never take credit for it. We can only see it marvel. We can only rejoice and be glad.
Image Description
An image of an ancient cornerstone at the corner of a Christian church building, intricately carved and embedded into the structure's very foundation. This cornerstone is prominently placed at the meeting point of two walls, symbolizing the building's historical and spiritual foundation. It features carved Christian symbols like the cross, a dove, and ancient inscriptions, possibly in Latin, that speak to the church's long heritage. The stone itself appears weathered, with signs of age and the gentle touch of nature, as moss or small plants may have begun to grow around it. The surrounding architecture of the church is old and majestic, with gothic windows and stone arches that add to the atmosphere of reverence and timelessness. The light of the setting or rising sun casts a soft glow, emphasizing the textures and details of the carving, making it a focal point of contemplation and faith.