Every morning in opening my quiet study time with the Lord I begin with this verse…
Ps 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. KJV
I thank the Lord for the day that He has given me that is to be my focus. Not yesterday, not tomorrow … today. But I got to thinking about this verse and I decided to look at the words’ in the original Hebrew and it opened my eyes.
The Day the Lord Hath Made
There are a number of interpretations here but the most common is the day of Jesus resurrection and the related day of Pentecost; the birth of the church (Acts 2). It was a day (asah) that God appointed, had charge of, and had prepared. It was the day that Jesus was made the “Chief Cornerstone” and the Kingdom of God was given to the church.
Matt 21:42-43 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. KJV
Rejoice
This is a word that we are all familiar with that is used throughout the Bible. But I found out that it had a much more active meaning than what I had understood. Rejoicing (giyl) means to be joyful but it also means to spin around violently.
Be Glad
The word sameach means more than just being happy or thankful. It means to be gleeful with merry-making. To brighten up and to cheer up.
So, putting it in perspective for us today, it’s about a new day for each of us and what God wants to accomplish in us. One commentator put it this way: The Lord has called me to triumph and this is the day He has appointed for the purpose; a gracious opportunity and I will approve it to His glory. We are challenged to carry out God’s purpose and rejoice and be glad in accomplishing that. Each new day is a day of remembering His resurrection and a day of close fellowship with Him in “joyful” service … a day of brightening hope.
Eph 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: KJV
Eph 2:19-20 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; KJV
It’s a day to rejoice and be glad because it’s the day of salvation… our salvation. It’s a day to brighten up and cheer about; to be joyful and spin around; and to take advantage of a gracious opportunity to approve it to His glory.
Yes, it’s about what God wants to accomplish in our life today. But we need to remind ourselves that’s true because God appointed Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone and made provision for us to become The Church. That’s something to rejoice and be glad about. Every day we wake up and take a breath God has made the way possible for Him to do His wonderful acts on our behalf so we can go forth and be a blessing for His glory.
Are you glad? As His bridegroom you have every reason to be.
This Wednesday’s Video Challenge
025 The Heart of the Matter – Part 3
Part 1 is video 023
Part 2 is video 024