CHIEF CORNERSTONE
Today’s Reading: Psalms 117-118
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Bedowins set up their transient homes (commonly tents) in locations best suited for their livestock. Here they are located just below Mount Nebo, the mountain in the Kingdom of Jordan from which Moses viewed the Promised Land.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 117:1-2
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!
For His merciful kindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
Our key verses constitute the shortest Psalm, with only sixteen words in the Hebrew language. It comes in the middle point of the Bible. Of course, we have been moving back and forth between the New Testament and the Old Testament. For those who started 100words.ca with Matthew, we’ve been reading together for 17 months now. We have seven months to go to complete reading through the Bible. Don’t give up now!
Psalm 118 encourages us to join the composer with total confidence in God alone. As we look for the Bible to interpret the Bible we may want to read about the “Chief Cornerstone” (118:22) elsewhere. Click on 1 Peter 2:4-8 and Ephesians 2:19-22. Jesus, Messiah (Hebrew), Christos (Greek), is that “Chief Cornerstone” in the construction of God’s eternal building! Jesus was rejected by the majority of Roman-appointed political and religious leaders in Judaism, but not by thousands of living stones amongst the Jewish people. As that tiny Psalm says, “Oh, praise the Lord, ALL YOU GENTILES!” We non-Jews are also living stones in God’s spiritual house.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
O Lord God, I praise You, laud You, and give thanks to You. I pray that “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (118:17). “You are my God, and I will praise You! You are my God and I will exalt You” (118:28). I do this through the Person and work of “the Chief Cornerstone,” the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
At the wedding of our second daughter, Ellen, to Nizar Shaheen in the village of Cana of Galilee, the women from the village raised their voices in very loud high-pitched tongue shrill sounds. It’s called “ululation” (click here for a sample). I understand that this sound is what the word translated “laud” from the Hebrew implies in our worship of God. Pictured above is an Arab Bedouin tent home. I can guarantee that the people who live at the foot of Mount Nebo know how to “laud,” or ululate.
It’s amazing to me how the Holy Spirit illuminates truth. For example, I’ve read Psalm 118:26-27 many times, but this time I saw something new. On Palm Sunday the people quoted verse 26a, “Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord” (Luke 19:37-38). No doubt they had memorized this entire Psalm. These were their songs of worship. Like me they didn’t tie together verses 26 and 27. Verse 27b says, “Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.” Jesus was on His way to the cross, not an earthly throne as those who cried “Hosanna” believed.
Yours because “His mercy endures forever!”
David
I will bless The Lord at all times His praise shall continually be in my mouth forget not all His benefits and rejoice In God my Savoir
Jesus is the Cornerstone and I will have my foundation upon This Rock Thank you David for your faithfulness to this blog and May God give you strength to carry on for His Glory
Hallelujah!!! our Lord our God is Mighty and Holy, Righteous and Faithful.
Amen! Jesus is indeed the chief cornerstone in whom we can place our trust and faith now and forever. “This is indeed the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”(Psalm 118:23). Just a few minutes before Mother passed away in 2001, we read together in our devotions verse 24:”This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” even though that was a very sad day for me as Mother was one of those saints; of whom people said that she never had an enemy. Believing your prayer with you David. Thinking of you Beverlee and praying for you this morning for God’s strength and peace.
Good morning David,
Praise the lord that we have strong faithful people like you, you open the door for us every morning to come to Jesus and follow him each day. Jesus is our inspiration and light in a dark world. Sing to him, praise him for he is good!!
Can’t imagine living in a tent in a hot desert and having to tend livestock too.
My cousin sent me this amazing video of human conception to birth. There’s no doubt God is in control of our lives. Enjoy:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/alexander_tsiaras_conception_to_birth_visualized.html
God bless us all.
Great video. No doubt whatsoever – a Great Creator designed us and all creation. Praise our Might God. God’s Wonderful Touch on you, Beverlee, as you go through your procedure.
I am so humbled and yet elated with our readings today. YES indeed His Love Endures forever!
Praying for you Beverlee and Gwen’s husband.
Amen! to every comment.
Ephesians 2: 19-22 (NKJV) CHRIST OUR CORNERSTONE! Amen!
Thank you for teaching us accurately and so faithfully.
Amen to all thank you David
Yes, Amen …thank you Pastor David!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6FWXSgl1vM
Thanks You, Pastor David, for pointing out the connection in 118:26-27 between the Triumphant Entry filled with celebration and praises..and the verse in KJV & NKJV
“Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar”, the Lamb of God soon to face the cross as the sacrifice for our sin and the defeat of satan. It is unfortunate that this truth could so easily be missed when reading the NIV which puts the phrase “bind the festal sacrifice with ropes” AS A FOOTNOTE. Though I enjoy the NIV and read it all the time, it is frustrating when significant words are left out or watered down. I am totally not fanatical as some are about only reading the KJV. However, I have always enjoyed power and beauty of the KJV, and more recently, the NKJV – the language continues to pack a punch whereas some of the other translations do not. I still remember, as a pastor, when everyone started using the NIV and all my studies and memorization was from the KJV. Though there are ‘word” changes that are reflected in many translations, overal, I still like to check with the KJV or NKJV. This is just my personal opinion. Anyway, I am glad Pastor David pointed this out in his blog today or I would have missed – it is TOO significant of a statement to miss. Blessings to all. Samuel
Thanks for your prayers. My husband is having a better day and better pain control. I know God is in control and can do miracles. I will praise him all the day long.