“I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:21-23 ESV
Reflection: what works do you see the Lord is currently doing?
This time of year is for many across the world a reminder of the birth of the Savior, the Messiah, through the lineage of David, promised long ago. We read the familiar prophecy from Isaiah “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV. Notice again the reference to the work of the Lord, that the coming of this Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace is solely the work of the Lord of hosts.
In fact, if you look at the focus verses today, the prophecy of Jesus Christ is spoken clearly through the psalmist, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:22-23 ESV. You might remember Jesus referring to himself as he talked with the religious leaders “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” Matthew 21:42 ESV, a direct quote from psalm 118. The religious leaders knew exactly what and who Jesus was referring to here, understanding that he was implying the prophecy was being fulfilled through them.
And we can look back through scripture, study what the Lord said, and then fulfilled, which gives us great joy. The most significant, of course, being the coming and the works of our Savior Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, of whom Paul wrote, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,”Philippians 2:6-9 ESV.
But, in the prophecy in Isaiah chapter 9, and is repeated throughout Isaiah’s prophecies, we see more than the coming of the Messiah. We also read “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:7 ESV; an everlasting kingdom of peace. Looking around at all the conflicts in the world today, we are not there yet, right? We don’t even have to go to nations fighting, we only need to look at our workplaces, perhaps even within our own families. So where is the kingdom of peace?
The Lord is actively at work, calling people to repentance, to come to the knowledge of truth. Peter wrote “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 ESV. And Paul wrote of God’s heart “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV. The kingdom is built stone by stone, starting with Jesus as the cornerstone, established in our hearts, as a temple for the living God. It is the Lord’s work, His doing, transforming our hearts. Establishing the kingdom of peace, as we let Him rule our hearts. We can observe His work, as one heart is transformed after another. The potter at work.
“And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” Revelation 22:10-17 ESV.