The Worship Center Online - Leesburg Virginia

This is the Day

^{24 “}This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24

There was a day when “This is the Day” was the most popular song in the church with churches every Sunday opening their services with this “scripture song.”

The rejoicing in the Lord and the theme that every day that God had created was a great day to rejoice was certainly a good thing and a very true thought. However, that is not what this verse of scripture is saying. A lot of people singing those words or quoting them miss the full import of this verse because they fail to see the meaning of “the day” in its context. The psalmist had a specific day in mind. The psalm refers to a day of God’s triumph. To find the true meaning of “the day” we should rejoice about, just check out the context of verse 24. Back up just a couple verses to find the context: ²² The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. Psalms 118:22 (NKJV)

God made a Stone rejected by the builders into the Chief Cornerstone. The New Testament applies this rejection and triumph to Jesus’ death and resurrection which is our greatest reason for celebration and rejoicing. Peter stood and preached about “the day” when he said these words in Acts chapter 4. ^{10 “} let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Acts 4:10-11 (NKJV)

This is the day the Lord has made’ that is, the day Jesus took my place on the cross. This is the day the Lord has made, the day Jesus loved us to death that we might know eternal and abundant life. This is the day the Lord has made, the day Jesus rose again from the grave conquering hell and death and giving us everlasting victory. This is the day to where we can proclaim:

⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.
⁵⁵ O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?
⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (NKJV)

^{24 “} This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24 (NKJV)

Yes, every day is a good day to rejoice in the Lord because of the day of triumph of Jesus’ death and resurrection! I invite you to be a part of our resurrection celebrations here at The Worship Center as we rejoice and are glad because of “the day” of our Lord’s triumph.

In His Service,

Pastor Joe