This is the Day

I remember as a kid, and even in “big church” singing a song about this (today) being the Day that the Lord has made:

“this is the day (this is the day),

that the Lord has made (that the Lord has made)

I will rejoice (I will rejoice)

And be glad in it (and be glad in it).

The more cynical among us might ask “What do you have to be joyful about? Today is terrible! War, high prices, famine, strife!” This song, which is based on Psalm 118, specifically verse 24, isn’t about our circumstances, it’s about who is on the throne IN SPITE OF our circumstances. God is not troubled by politics and politicians, He is not removed from His throne by wars and rumors of wars; in fact, as we read in Job, even Satan must give Him an account (however reluctantly) of all he has been doing, and in Daniel 7, in spite of the Chaos and the Beasts, God is immovably on His throne. The Enemy of our souls wants us to focus on what isn’t working, He wants us to focus on our circumstances. The world is a trap in which we’re drawn in to turmoil, trouble, and strife! But if we focus, or as the Author of Hebrews says when we’re “Fixing our eyes” on Jesus, it’s difficult to let our circumstances dictate our joy! Christ has conquered sin on the Cross! He has conquered death by rising from the Grave! Our enemy wants to kill steal and destroy, Jesus offers life, and offers it to the full! Don’t look at what isn’t working, focus on the One who completed the work of our salvation! We can have Joy because Jesus said “it is finished!” We have died to our old selves, and have New Life in Him! THAT is a reason for everlasting joy!

Psalm 118:

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let those who fear the Lord say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;

the Lord answered me and set me free.

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

The Lord is on my side as my helper;

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

All nations surrounded me;in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

They surrounded me like bees;

they went out like a fire among thorns;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,

but the Lord helped me.

The Lord is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.

Glad songs of salvation

are in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,

the right hand of the Lord exalts,

the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

I shall not die, but I shall live,

and recount the deeds of the Lord.

The Lord has disciplined me severely,

but he has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them

and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;

the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me

and have become my salvation.

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

This is the Lord’s doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Save us, we pray, O Lord!

O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God,

and he has made his light to shine upon us.

Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,

up to the horns of the altar!

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

you are my God; I will extol you.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!