THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE

Read Psalms 115-118.

“This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).

Psalm 118 was used in responsive singing between the pilgrims coming up the Temple Mount while the priest were within the Temple.  The responsive song goes back and forth till the pilgrims get to the Temple.  A solo voice cries, “Open to me the gates of righteous” (118:19) and the Levities from within respond, “This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter” (118:20).  The gates are opened and the whole procession sings as they enter, “I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation.  The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.  This was the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (118:21-24).  The Levite's sing, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (118:22) and on through verse 27 after which a solo voice and the people answer, “You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.  Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever" (118:28-29).

This gate with its chief corner stone is Jesus Christ (Mt. 21:42, Mk. 12:10, Lk. 20:17, Acts 4:11, 1Pet. 2:7)!  Jesus also referred to Himself as this gate when He said, "I am the door, if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture" (Jn. 10:9). 

This Psalm does not speak of the date but the day the Lord has made.  It is the day of grace created by our Lord Jesus on the Cross.  There sins are forgiven and new life is given to the repentant.  In Revelation 21 the gates of the New Jerusalem are of pearl, the one precious stone formed through suffering.  The suffering of the Cross is the gateway into the New Jerusalem, we are made righteous because He has become our salvation.

Today is that day of grace that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it for a Christian is not a clone of some original.  Each child of God has his own personal personality.  We are not a generation of sameness.  No, we are “new creatures” in Christ made and matured into the likeness of Christ and fit to enter His Presence!

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, I praise and honor You for You have become my salvation.  Amen.”

Evening Reading:   2 Kings 18:13-19:37   Acts 21:1-17   Psalms 149:1-9   Proverbs 18:8