“If you do not like the weather here, wait around a little while, it will change.” We have heard some form of that statement everywhere we have lived. That advice applies beyond the weather. The moral and spiritual climate also changes. Although the change may seem to have been always in a negative direction in our lifetime, that appearance is not completely correct. Historically, there have been worse times.
The lawlessness of the American frontier was replaced by a period of relative righteousness. The ungodliness of Britain in the mid-1700s is almost beyond belief. The improvement from 1770 to 1870 was remarkable. The ungodliness of the Roman empire was such that neither the slaughter of the innocents nor the crucifixion of an innocent man were remarkable occurrences.
Even in Old Testament times, this ebb and flow of the spiritual life took place. This psalm is about a situation where a righteous but rejected one has now been vindicated. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (22-23).
This is not stated as a prediction of future events. So, it may be a mistake to call this a Messianic prediction. Some of its phrases (verse 18, for example) do not fit our Lord. Instead, this seems to have been written about someone then alive. But it has a broader application; and it certainly applies to many of God’s servants. Moses was often rejected as leader. It would have fit David in some respects (rejected by Saul but vindicated by God). It fit Jeremiah to an extent (constantly rejected yet vindicated by events).
But while not written as a prediction and not exact enough in detail to apply it to any one servant of God exclusively, its application to our Lord is unmistakable. While many of God’s servants have been rejected and later vindicated, this is most remarkably seen in his supreme servant.
He was rejected. All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 12 They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.
Jesus was rejected by the leaders of his own people, ‘the builders’ (22 cf. Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10; Lk 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:4ff and especially Jn 1:11). He was also rejected by the legal authorities (10; Acts 4:27). At times, Jesus was even rejected by own disciples. “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him (Jn 6:66).
He was rejected and we are his followers, so what might we logically expect?
At the proper time, He was vindicated, and his vindication assures our vindication. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Verse 24 is a statement of our need to rejoice in the vindication of the righteous, rather than a call to rejoice every day of our lives, as it is so often used. However, since our vindication is sure (having been accomplished in Christ), we ought to have a degree of everyday rejoicing even in our mourning over current situations (Philip 4:4-7; 1 Pet 1:3-9).
Someone has said, “Praise confuses the enemy — so praise the Lord in advance.” Given our Lord’s history, praising him in advance makes sense.
This psalm reminds us that being rejected is nothing new for a servant of God. Psalm 118 was the last in the series of psalms known as the Egyptian Hallel, the six psalms customarily sung at the Passover meal. Possibly, it is the last psalm sung before they went to Gethsemane (Mk 14:26). It certainly would have been appropriate. They were about to witness the ultimate case of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone. After thirty-three years of trial Jesus was to face his greatest trial. But beyond the great trial was the great victory — the day that the Lord had been making throughout history. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.