Seize the Moment – Day 1248
Cry Out in Praise!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, August 17.
When the religious leaders asked Jesus to rebuke His disciples for praising Him as the coming Messiah and King, Jesus answered in Luke 19:40, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” The people’s praise was rooted in Psalm 118, which is why the Pharisees were so scandalized. Listen to Boice explain the significance of what was happening:
When we remember that Psalm 118 is part of the Egyptian Hallel, that the Hallel was sung by Jews at the time of the Passover, and that it was Passover when Jesus entered Jerusalem and later died on Calvary, it is understandable that these words would have been in the minds of the people who greeted him as he entered the city. Jesus entered Jerusalem on the day the lambs were being taken into the Jewish homes in preparation for the sacrifice.[1]
Here are some of the statements made in Psalm 118, from which the disciples praised God during Jesus’ triumphal entry:
- Jesus is the “chief corner stone” of verse 22 – “the stone which the builders rejected” (cf. Acts 4:8-12).
- The “Hosanna” is proclaimed in verse 25, “O Lord, do save, we beseech you” (Matthew 21:9, John 12:13).
- Verse 26 is proclaimed by the crowd, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the lord” (Matthew 21:9, John 12:13).
- Jesus is the “festival sacrifice” of verse 27, “Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar” (cf. 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 118, meditating upon the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ so that He would fulfill the good pleasure of His Father for our salvation. I pray for you to grow in your faith and cry out in praise. Cry out in praise of God today, or the rocks will do that work for you!
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
FOOTNOTE:
[1] James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 958.