This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118: 24, NIV.
Our Gracious Father, and our God, we say thank You for Your everlasting love and care. We delight to be in Your presence as we study Your holy Word. Please stay close by our side we pray; in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
If you are a person who listens carefully to what is being said, you would probably respond to this verse in the following manner: Has God not made all the days? Why is the psalmist singling out a day, as the day, that the LORD has made? What is so remarkable about this day? I asked the same questions. But before I investigated the cause for his rejoicing, I wanted to think it out for myself. What would make a day special for me? What are some of the reasons I would rejoice on any given day? I rejoiced on the day that each of our children were born. I rejoiced on the day that our precious little grandson was born. I rejoiced on the day that I was baptized. I rejoiced on all of my graduation days, with the exception of one. I rejoiced on my wedding day. There are many, many, other family occasions in which I rejoiced. I believe that all of these days were made by God, for those special occasions, and so I rejoiced in them. Now I will try to find out what was so special about the day the psalmist was talking about, and why he was rejoicing.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the following comments on verses 23-28 in the annotations of the NRSV: “A thanksgiving ritual in the Temple amid the psalmist’s friends and family” (The New Oxford Annotated Bible , NRSV with Apocrypha, 879 Hebrew Bible)! It seemed to have been a special family celebration at church! Was it the dedication of a child? Was it a Bar Mitzvah? Was it a wedding? I believe it could have been any of the occasions mentioned. This psalm is an anthological hymn of thanksgiving. The beginning of the psalm appears to be a thanksgiving for victory in battle. Whatever was the occasion, it was a time for rejoicing. Notice how the psalmist invites others to rejoice with him, “let us rejoice and be glad in it!
We enjoy sharing our happy occasions with loved ones. This seems only natural, because they are the ones who are usually with us in the bad times, as well as in the good times. As we celebrate, we are enjoying the occasion as much for them, and sometimes more, than for ourselves. We are grateful to them for having been with us even when the going was rough. We are indebted to them for being willing to be a part of our suffering. Now we want them to be a part of our rejoicing! Whatever the situation, I believe that our joys are increased, when we share them.
Every week, many of us enter into a spiritual celebration as we meet, to keep holy, the Sabbath day. A day that the Lord made, on which He rested, a day that He blessed, and that He set aside for holy use. Today I invite you to rejoice with me on this holy day. You will be glad that you did!
Have a very blessed, and happy, Sabbath!