John Calvin Commentary Psalms 118:22

"The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner." — Psalms 118:22 (ASV)

The stone which the builders rejected. In these words, David boldly pours contempt on the slanders with which he was unjustly and undeservedly attacked. Since it was ominous that he was condemned by the entire assembly of the nobles and all who held authority, and since the opinion was widespread that he was a wicked and rejected man, he deliberately refutes this error and vindicates his innocence before the leading men among them.

“It is of little importance to me that I am abandoned by the leading men, since I have been clearly chosen by God’s judgment to be king over Israel.” The analogy he uses is appropriate, comparing himself to a stone and the leading rulers of the Church to master-builders. It might indeed seem completely irrational for him to assert that the leaders of the realm, to whom the government of the Church was entrusted, should be lacking the Spirit of God and devoid of sound judgment.

Therefore, in opposition to their corrupt and mistaken judgment, he emphasizes God’s grace, declaring that he was placed by God’s purpose and power to support the whole building. In short, he shows that splendid titles and high rank, in which his enemies boast, are no obstacle to him, because, relying on God’s call, he possesses a glory greater than the judgment of the whole world.

Since it was difficult to persuade them of this truth, he magnifies and elaborates on God’s grace, so that its authority might silence all slander and noisy conjectures.

This, he says, is the doing of Jehovah. “Go and quarrel with God, all of you who strive hard to remove me from my throne, to which I was not raised by accident or by human strategy, but by the evident power of God.” He confirms this because everyone is compelled to wonder at what had occurred, seeing it as something incredible.

Now, when God acts marvelously and in a way that is beyond our understanding, His power inevitably becomes all the more clear to us.

If anyone prefers to interpret it this way: “Although this work may fill people with astonishment, that is still no reason for rejecting it,” they are free to do so. To me, however, it certainly seems more probable that David uses the term wonderful, so that human arrogance may submit to God, and that no one may dare to whisper anything against Him.

The appropriateness of applying these things to Christ will be more fittingly discussed when I consider the twenty-fifth verse.