Holy Week • Guided Prayer Retreat (3 April)
reading for: 3 April
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
The Good News According to the Psalmist
READ
Finally we arrive to the Psalms. Though Jesus had not yet come at this time, there is a strong allusion to His first coming - The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things (v. 15), the strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph (v. 16). And guess who is later raised to the “right hand of God”? Jesus! (Acts 7:55-56, Romans 8:34)
Jesus is also the stone that the builders rejected that has now become the cornerstone (v. 22 and Ephesians 2:20)
The character of God does not change so even in the Old Testament, even before the coming of Jesus, the Psalmist could proclaim the good news in faith because the LORD is good and His faithful love endures forever (v. 1-2)
He is our strength and our song and in Him we have our victory (v. 14)
We can sing songs of joy and victory for God’s right hand has done glorious things, his right hand will be raised in triumph. (v. 15-16)
We need not fear death for we will live to tell what the LORD has done (v. 17)
We might be disciplined but not die (v. 18)
We can walk through the gates of righteousness and thank the LORD (v. 19).
For it is there the godly enter (v. 20) where we thank Him for answering our prayer and giving us victory (v. 21).
The day that the rejected stone becomes a cornerstone is the marvellous work of the LORD (v. 22-23)
It is truly the day the LORD has made, worth rejoicing and being glad in it! (v. 24)
REFLECT
Even the Psalmist who did not yet see Jesus, could proclaim the good news! His assurance was the character of God, who is good and whose faithful love endures forever. And as we all know, his hope was not in vain, for in Jesus we see the fulfilment of this victory and salvation!
Are you in a difficult situation now and feel like there is no hope or good in it? Look to God! Look to Jesus! For in Jesus, we see the fulfilment of God’s faithful love that gives to us victory!