Psalm 118:19-28 The Psalm appointed for this coming
Sunday. This section seems to be the answer and a great thanksgiving song,
which echoes the “Give thanks” of
verse 1, the “answered …me” of verse
5 and the testimony of verse 14.
Psalm 118 – The Chief Cornerstone
Psalm 118 does not name an author in
its title, but there is reason to believe it was King David, the Sweet Psalmist
of Israel. Ezra 3:10-11 suggests that Psalm 118 was sung at the founding of the
second temple, and when they sang it, they attributed it to David (“according
to the ordinance of David king of Israel,” Ezra 3:10).
Most probably, David was the author of
this psalm…. It partakes of David’s spirit, and everywhere shows the hand of a
master. The style is grand and noble; the subject, majestic.
Though this was likely David’s psalm,
it was also Jesus’ psalm. “This is pre-eminently the triumph song of the
Christ, He the ideal Servant, He the perfect Priest, He the Leader of the
people. How much all these words meant to Him as He sang them on that night in
the upper room.”
Though this was likely David’s psalm,
it was also Luther’s psalm. “This is my own beloved psalm. Although the entire
Psalter and all of Holy Scripture are dear to me as my only comfort and source
of life, I fell in love with this psalm especially. Therefore, I call it my
own. When emperors and kings, the wise and the learned and even saints could
not aid me, this psalm proved a friend and helped me out of many great
troubles. As a result, it is dearer to me than all the wealth, honor, and power
of the pope, the Turk, and the emperor. I would be most unwilling to trade this
psalm for all of it.” (Martin Luther)[2]
Collect
for Psalm 118:
Lord God, your Son, rejected by the
builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church. Shed rays of your glory
upon your Church, that it may be seen as the gate of salvation open to all
nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring out from its courts to celebrate
the wonder of Christ’s resurrection, now and forever. Amen [3]
Collect
for Friday of the week of Lent 5: Grant
us your forgiveness, and set us free from our enslavement to sin. We ask this
through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [4]
[2] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-118
[3] Collect for Psalm 118, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
[4] Ibid, Collect for Friday of the week of Lent 5
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