Psalm 118 - Two-Edge Sword or Blessed Is He

^"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Sound familiar? We hear it every Palm Sunday. This verse is found not only in Psalm 118:26, but Matt 21:9, 23:39, Mark 11:9, Luke 13:35, 19:38, John 12:13 (NIV) as well.

 

In these passages we hear Jesus reminding the people that they had rejected and had killed God's prophets before him. He tells them that their houses have been left desolate and they will not see him again until they say: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.  The other incident in Jesus' life that these verses refer to is his triumphant entry into Jerusalem for the Passover, riding on a donkey, with all of the people greeting him with joy as they shout these same words: "Blessed is he (the king) who comes in the name of the Lord" We know what happened at the end of the week.... God's chosen one, Jesus Christ, was also put to death. Hung high on a tree, the people He came to save, had Him put to death.

 

Those who come in the name of the LORD are not always welcomed. The prophets before Jesus were not. Jesus, himself, was not. Do we expect a better reception? The Good News, I must say, is not always welcomed. Those who bring the Word of God are still attacked on all sides. That Word of God, the Good News is like a two edged sword. One edge "penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Heb 4:12) The other edge of the sword is used to heal the nations. The sword, in times when swords were used in battle, could be heated and used to cicatrize the wound. That is what the Word of God does. It can heal the nations or it can scatter the people who cower in fear of the Word. 

 

If hearing the Word of God makes you feel good about yourself all of the time, you're probably not really hearing the Word. Nobody is that good that we don't need to be reminded now and then that we might be straying from the way. The Word, out of love, also corrects us, confronts us, to change.  It does not just say, don't worry about it, you can deny me, you can attack me. It says, "I am the way and the truth and the life." "Follow me."  So, when we are called to change our direction and follow, sometimes, people reject this Word and the one who brings it. Sometimes, they get down right angry on hearing this call to follow.

 

I have these words framed in my home office where I read them many times I day. "Comfort the disturbed. Disturb the Comfortable." It was given me a few years ago, by my friend, Jennifer Lynn. It reminds me that the Word which I share with people is a two edged sword. It is their to comfort the people who are in distress, but it is also there to disturb those who are too comfortable in the ways of the world. It will disturb those who have rejected Jesus as the "way, the truth, and the life." 

 

Verses 22-24 One more verse from Psalm 118 which is also found in the New Testament:

 

"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." (Psalm 118:22) is also found in the New Testament in Matt 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:7.

In 1 Peter 2:6:8 we hear: "For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for."

 

Jesus is that cornerstone. He is the precious stone which brings salvation to all who believe. But, all who do not believe will stumble over the stone.

 

This Psalm 118 is just an awesome psalm. Please read it in it's entirety. But, just in case you don't, here's a few more verses for you.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, nd I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (118:26-29)