Exodus 15:1-18; Matthew 21:33-46; Psalms 27:2-3; Proverbs 10:27-28
OT: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said: I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted; he has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him… Lord, your right hand is glorious in power. Lord, your right hand shattered the enemy. You overthrew your adversaries by your great majesty. You unleashed your burning wrath; it consumed them like stubble… Lord, who is like you among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? …With your faithful love, you will lead the people you have redeemed; you will guide them to your holy dwelling with your strength… You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your possession; Lord, you have prepared the place for your dwelling; Lord, your hands have established the sanctuary. The Lord will reign forever and ever!” (Exodus 15:1-2, 6-7, 11, 13, 17-18 CSB)
Back in the late 70s / early 80s, my dad pastored a small Independent church, and I remember singing this song as a “praise chorus” as a kid. This was the song of celebration that Moses and the Israelites composed right on the spot after God completely and miraculously delivered them from the best that Egypt (a super power in that day) could throw at them. We talk a lot these days about being on the wrong side of history. Well, not only was Egypt on the wrong side of history, they were on the wrong side of God’s hand… siding with the kingdom of darkness and against the Kingdom of light. As is says in Acts 5:39, you don’t want to be found fighting against God, for no one is able to overthrow Him and His kingdom.
NT: “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is what the Lord has done and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit. Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew he was speaking about them.” (Matthew 21:42-45 CSB)
The passage that Jesus quoted is from Psalm 118. That entire psalm was written to give thanks for an enormous victory – much like Exodus 15. Jesus was and is the fulfillment of that cornerstone that was rejected by the religious leaders, but established and set in place by the Lord. The Church and the Kingdom is and will be founded around this Chief Cornerstone, and will be built with people – living stones – that prostrate themselves before and obediently follow this Chief Cornerstone. And those who reject Him will eventually come under His judgement and their works will be completely shattered brought to ruin.
Psalms: “When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell. Though an army deploys against me, my heart will not be afraid; though a war breaks out against me, I will still be confident.” (Psalms 27:2-3 CSB)
Again, when you are on the Lord’s side… when you have humbled yourself and fallen “on” the Cornerstone and come under His Kingdom, you will not ultimately fall – those who stand against the Lord and against you will stumble and fall.
Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.” (Proverbs 10:27-28 CSB)
Just to put the finishing bow on the package – here is the same truth stated again. When we fear (respect, honor, submit to) the Lord, our Life will be prolongs and we have the hope of joy. If we reject the Lord, our years are cut short and our plans will ultimately perish. The choice is ours.
Jamie Hicks 