Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Psalm 118:22 - Cornerstone Rejected

 In 1Peter 2:7, he speaks of the resurrected and dominant Jesus and uses Psalm 118:22 as a comparison, that while rejected by the Jews, Jesus is the cornerstone of the building, with the builders being the Jews.

Now, while that is obviously polemical, Psalm 118:22 isn't that bad of a metaphor to use. It's never referred to as a prophecy, even though many Christians see it as such.

The problem is, as we have seen in other supposed prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, just because one might be able to see a connection metaphorically, that doesn't mean that it's a fit contextually.

And that is certainly the case with Psalm 118.

The nameless narrator tells as, as many of the Psalms do, that the enemies of the Jews are surrounding him, not like a lion or dogs, but as annoying bees and thorns, and then declaring that he will crush them all, destroy them. Then the next four verses talk about how YHVH is the true source of strength and salvation, and no other. And that leads into verses 17-26 where the speaker is grateful that he will not die nor be given over to death, and recites his gratitude to YHVH.

And so, being in the middle of all of this, after having destroyed the other nations and having been spared from death, the speaker says:

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone."

Now, there is an Aramaic Targum that refers to this as referring to David: 

"The boy that the builders rejected; he was among the sons of Jesse and he was privileged to be appointed as the king and ruler."

Killing the enemies and surviving them, being grateful for having been saved from death, these could certainly apply to David.

But to Jesus? Not even close.

Other than a way of whining that the Jews rejected him, and then, only as a allegorical force.

Style: (I am going to stop adding a style at the end, just because it's getting repetitive). 

Meme used: 



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