Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, June 1, 2013 Read – Psalm 118:19-24 The Psalms we have been reading for the past few days were not used by the NT writers. Our Psalm for today, Psalm 118, is the Psalm used by NT writers more often than any other. It was used by a variety of NT writers. We encountered this Psalm in the speech of Peter and John before the religious establishment in Jerusalem. As we recalled when we were reading Acts 4, the exact verse of this Psalm was also used by Jesus when he confronted the same religious establishment. It is interesting to contemplate the original psalmist’s meaning in his Psalm. Psalm 118 is one of those Psalms that knows of the hardship and pain of lament but now sings of the deliverance of God. The image of a stone that was once rejected becoming the chief cornerstone speaks of the mystery of God bringing about good in the midst of what is not good. What was rejected is what is now of value. A person who once felt rejected and abandoned in now of value too. It is suggested that Psalm 118 be read at the graveside as the burial of loved ones is taking place. The promise of the Psalm is that even the grave can become a doorway to eternal life – “this is the gate of the LORD” (Psalm 118:20). The Psalm speaks of a great reversal. One of Luke’s themes is that of reversal – “the high are brought down from their thrones and the lowly are lifted up” (Luke 1:52). Contemplating this Psalm was helpful for the first followers of Jesus – and as they read it through the filter of the death and resurrection of Jesus they heard it with new ears.