Psalm 118: 19-24
19
Open to me the [temple] gates of righteousness;
I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord.
20
This is the gate of the Lord;
The righteous will enter through it.
21
I will give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me;
And You have become my salvation [my Rescuer, my Savior].
22
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone.
23
This is from the Lord and is His doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24
This [day in which God has saved me] is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
In our passage today, the psalmist sees the Lord’s salvation as a new beginning; a new day in which God will do amazing and great things. The Lord is the Cornerstone—the first and most important stone laid for a secure structure—and we are built upon him. He gives his temple the shape it needs by guiding us in righteousness. Every day, there are many reasons why we should rejoice. So, even when we face difficulties, let’s praise the Lord and be glad, because this day ushers in the ongoing salvation of our perfect Rescuer.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that no matter how I am feeling, I can praise you because every good and glorious thing I could say about you would be true. Thank you for knowing my heart and inviting me to share it with you. You always make a safe place for me; a solid foundation on which to stand in our relationship. Mold me and shape me as a temple you delight to inhabit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.