Monday, March 30th

Psalm 118:21-24

“21 I thank you that you have answered me

    and have become my salvation.

22 The stone that the builders rejected

    has become the cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord's doing;

    it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Holy Week begins with a festive occasion: Christ’s Triumphal Entry. Our church fathers included Psalm 118 as one of the readings twice in the week: Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. This specific psalm is called a “liturgical psalm” which means it had (and has) a specific place in worship. It was used in Passover, as well as Luther’s time, and today.

Verse 22 is an often-quoted passage. Cross-references include Isaiah 28, and The New Testament finds it in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) as Christ cites it. Other New Testament citations are Acts, Ephesians and 1 Peter.

Explanatory notes tell of the importance of this psalm as part of a section of psalms known as the Hallel (Psalms 113 – 118) used during celebrations of national deliverance. Christ uses it to tell of his own death and resurrection in the gospels. Paul and Peter use it as somber reminders to people that Christ is that “cornerstone” which has laid a firm foundation for us as believers in Christ.

Palm Sunday’s joy for the presumptive earthly Davidic king will turn to sorrow for his suffering and death later in the week. The resurrection will follow, as we know now, but for now, we observe the triumphal entry of Christ. 

Pray with me: Gracious Father, you sent your Son to earth to be our king, but not the kind of king we expected. We give thanks to you for sending Christ to earth to teach and lead us in a new direction as he begins to fulfill his mission on earth. In his name we pray, Amen.