“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 – NIV)

This verse from the Book of Psalm is very familiar and probably one of the verses you have memorized. A good number of songs have been written using this verse and that has led to its popularization.

But do you know what the context of this verse is? Do you know why King David wrote these words? Why did David feel compelled to write such words? Let’s look at Psalm 118:24 within the entire chapter to see what was going on.

This Psalm begins and ends with the same words. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1, 29 – NIV) And everything between these two verses is what David was thankful to God for and what he found reason to rejoice.

So what do we find between the verses?

David was thankful in times of anguish. In his anguish, David called to God and God answered. And because God was with him, there was no reason to be afraid. God was his Helper during this time and David was triumphant! (Psalm 118:5-7)

David was thankful to have God as his refuge. David knew that man would fail him, but that God never would. So David trusted in God and in the Name of the Lord. (Psalm 118:8-12)

David was thankful for the help and strength God provided to him. God was David’s salvation and he knew it. (Psalm 118:13-14)

David was thankful as he recounted the mighty things God had done in the past and for what He would do in the future. (Psalm 118:15-16)

David was thankful during God’s discipline. David recognized his sinful nature and accepted God’s words in order to learn from his mistakes. David also recognized that God’s words led to life. (Psalm 118:17-18)

David was thankful for his salvation. He knew that it was only through God that salvation was possible. In this section, David mentions the gate of righteousness and passing through that gate. Yes, this is great reason to be thankful. (Psalm 118:19-21)

David was thankful in the day for all that God had done. For all that He had accomplished. For what Israel had become in its present and for what it would be in the future. “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:22-24 – NIV)

[You might recognize the first words of this section from Jesus’ teachings. He referred to Himself with these words. Jesus was the completion of God’s great plan. And in the end, Jesus accomplished it.]

David was thankful. For God’s salvation, His leadership, His success, His Name, and His light. David was thankful that God was his God and because God was who He was (and is and is to come), David praised and exalted God. (Psalm 118:25-28)

So you see this single verse holds great meaning. We must rejoice in the day because God shows up to help us with any and all situations we face that day.

Whether we find ourselves facing trials, temptations, sin, enemies, victory, discipline, or anguish, God is with us. He will never leave us.

The Message paraphrases our key verse this way. “This is the very day God acted—let’s celebrate and be festive!” (Psalm 118:24) God is acting. He is working. He is doing. All the more reason to celebrate and be festive!

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna