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Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 118
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow
The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22).
Rejection is not easy to handle. It was one of the things I tried to avoid growing up. There were times at school when certain team games were scheduled for recess. Captains were selected to pick the players for each team. The selection of players went back and forth until all the students were on a team. The way I looked at it, the longer it took to be picked the greater the rejection. The ultimate rejection was being picked last!
In Psalm 118:22 we discover several words that are important to examine more closely. The words are builders, rejected, and chief cornerstone.
Builders
In verse 22 the “builders” are the people who are doing the rejecting. They represent those in charge, who are leaders and decisions makers. The decisions they make are big deals and can influence a generation.
The word “builders” also
applies to parents and their leadership and authority in the home. The
responsibility and impact of a builder is huge!
Good builders are the ones who do the work of building up
others.
Rejected
Looking up the word “rejected” in Hebrew doesn’t soften the impact of this powerful word. Any of the following words can be used to replace rejected—dispose, disdain, despise, loathe, refuse, or cast away. When a builder rejects something it should be because it is flawed, dangerous, corrupt, or inferior. Morally speaking, when a builder rejects someone, that person should be evil, harmful, dangerous, or deceptive.
Chief Cornerstone
Historically, the “chief cornerstone” was the foundational anchor of a building. It was the largest and strongest stone, and able to bear great weight. It was the first stone laid. From it, all other stones were aligned. It was the most important stone used in building. Without it, a structure would become unstable and subject to ruin.
Prophetically, the chief cornerstone represents not “what” is being rejected, but “who” is being rejected. Verse 22 is not about construction work, it is an analogy describing the rejection of the Messiah by the spiritual leaders who should have welcomed, celebrated and received Him as God’s promised salvation.
The prophet Isaiah gives us his version of Psalm 118:22, “He (Messiah) was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care” (Isaiah 53:3 NLT).
It is heartbreaking to realize that those who were responsible for building others up and pointing them to the true chief cornerstone, were the ones who led others to embrace a life that would bring them ruination.
We are also reminded of Psalm 18:22 from the following Scriptures:
Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Romans 9:33
As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Ephesians 2:20
Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the chief cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
1 Peter 2:6
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Insight: Jesus (The Chief Cornerstone) said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24 NKJV).
Rejected
Looking up the word “rejected” in Hebrew doesn’t soften the impact of this powerful word. Any of the following words can be used to replace rejected—dispose, disdain, despise, loathe, refuse, or cast away. When a builder rejects something it should be because it is flawed, dangerous, corrupt, or inferior. Morally speaking, when a builder rejects someone, that person should be evil, harmful, dangerous, or deceptive.
Chief Cornerstone
Historically, the “chief cornerstone” was the foundational anchor of a building. It was the largest and strongest stone, and able to bear great weight. It was the first stone laid. From it, all other stones were aligned. It was the most important stone used in building. Without it, a structure would become unstable and subject to ruin.
Prophetically, the chief cornerstone represents not “what” is being rejected, but “who” is being rejected. Verse 22 is not about construction work, it is an analogy describing the rejection of the Messiah by the spiritual leaders who should have welcomed, celebrated and received Him as God’s promised salvation.
The prophet Isaiah gives us his version of Psalm 118:22, “He (Messiah) was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care” (Isaiah 53:3 NLT).
It is heartbreaking to realize that those who were responsible for building others up and pointing them to the true chief cornerstone, were the ones who led others to embrace a life that would bring them ruination.
We are also reminded of Psalm 18:22 from the following Scriptures:
Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Romans 9:33
As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Ephesians 2:20
Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the chief cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
1 Peter 2:6
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Insight: Jesus (The Chief Cornerstone) said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24 NKJV).
Only those who build their lives upon the solid, unshakable life of Jesus Christ will be able to withstand the storms of life.
#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow
©2026 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.
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