Stone That Stood – A Psalm 118 Blues Song

📖Psalm 118 is the final psalm in the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113–118), a series of hymns sung during Passover and major Jewish festivals. It was likely sung by Jesus Himself with His disciples at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30). The author is not named, but tradition and some scholars attribute it to King David, written after a great military or spiritual victory.

The Psalm expresses deep gratitude for Yahweh's deliverance, boldly declares that God is greater than any human help, and prophetically points to Jesus as "the stone the builders rejected" (v.22) who became the cornerstone-a verse quoted multiple times in the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7).

Psalm 118 is a declaration of trust in God's unchanging love, and it carries a messianic hope that resounds today.

📜 ORIGINAL TEXT – Psalm 118 (WEB – World English Bible)

1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say that his loving kindness endures forever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say that his loving kindness endures forever.
4 Now let those who fear Yahweh say that his loving kindness endures forever.
5 Out of my distress, I called on Yah. Yah answered me with freedom.
6 Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
7 Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me, but in Yahweh's name, I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In Yahweh's name I indeed cut them off.
12 They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In Yahweh's name I cut them off.
13 You pushed me back hard to make me fall, but Yahweh helped me.
14 Yahweh is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. "The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly.
16 The right hand of Yahweh is exalted! The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!"
17 I will not die, but live, and declare Yah's works.
18 Yah has punished me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them. I will give thanks to Yah.
20 This is the gate of Yahweh; the righteous will enter into it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation.

Click Here for the Full Psalm 118 Scripture: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20118&version=WEB

🎶 LYRICS – "Stone That Stood"
A Psalm 118 Blues Song

Verse 1
Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good.
His loving kindness endures-forever it has stood.
Let Israel speak it, let Aaron's house agree,
Let all who fear the Lord say, "He has set us free."

Verse 2
Out of my distress, I cried to His name,
Yahweh answered with freedom-not just comfort, but flame.
He stood beside me when I was weak and worn,
So what can man do to me when I've been reborn?

Verse 3
Surrounded on every side, like fire-fed thorns,
The nations pressed in-full of fury and scorn.
But in Yahweh's name, their strength fell away,
Like smoke in the wind at the break of day.

Verse 4
You pushed me back hard, I was close to the fall,
But Yahweh upheld me-He answered my call.
He is my strength, my song, my salvation's cry,
The reason I live, the reason I won't die.

Chorus
The stone the builders once cast aside,
Has become the cornerstone, forever glorified.
This is Yahweh's doing-marvelous and bright,
This is the day He made-let us walk in His light.

Verse 5
The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly still,
It rises in power, in justice, in will.
I shall not die, no-I will live to proclaim,
The works of Yahweh, the truth of His name.

Verse 6
Open the gates of righteousness to me,
I will walk through them in humility.
This is the gate where the faithful stand,
The ones made right by Yahweh's hand.

Bridge – Spoken Blues with Instrumental Build
I was struck, but not forsaken.
Chastened, but never taken.
Saved-not for silence,
But to sing what He's done.

Chorus – Refrain with Echo
The stone the builders once cast aside-(cast aside...)
Has become the cornerstone, now sanctified.
This is Yahweh's doing-it opens the skies,
This is the day He made-rejoice and rise.

Outro
You are my God-I will give You praise.
You are my God-I will lift Your name.
Oh give thanks to Yahweh-for He is good…
And His loving kindness has always stood.