A Good Day to Rejoice

This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. We have so many reason to rejoice today. Understanding this verse will give us perpetual joy.

The framing here is the children of Israel rejoice because of the experience of deliverance and the anticipation of salvation. The psalmist said this is the Lord’s doing it is marvelous in his eyes. What is marvelous in the Lord’s eyes? The very way that he made salvation available to everyone who believes. He who believes on the cornerstone is saved. We were studying on Tuesday The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Acts writer made it so plain. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Ac 4:11–12).

We must recognize as Peter said,

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,” 8 and

“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Pe 2:7–10).

This one verse of joy reminds us that Gods people should be joyous!

We Should have joy because we have become righteous

Verse 19

19  Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them

and give thanks to the LORD.

20  This is the gate of the LORD;

the righteous shall enter through it. (Ps 118:19–20).

None of us should forget our dark past. Where God had brought your from and what He has delivered you from.

The psalmist said he leads in that paths of righteousness for his name sake.

Its only in righteousness shall we see God and experience his glory.

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

4  He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to what is false

and does not swear deceitfully. (Ps 24:3–4).

5  He will receive blessing from the LORD

and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Ps 24:5).

We should have Joy because we are saved

21  I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. (Ps 118:21).

The idea of joy is most commonly expressed in the OT by śimḥâ/śamaḥ and in the NT by chara/chairō

Verses 14-17 says

The LORD is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.

15  Glad songs of salvation

are in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,

16  the right hand of the LORD exalts,

the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”

17  I shall not die, but I shall live,

and recount the deeds of the LORD. (Ps 118:14–17).

Finally we should have joy when we come together.

This Psalmist goes from first person singular with the word I to a plural pronoun us. The invitation is for us to rejoice and be glad. Look at the concluding verses of this Psalm.

24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25  Save us, we pray, O LORD!

O LORD, we pray, give us success!

26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

We bless you from the house of the LORD.

27  The LORD is God,

and he has made his light to shine upon us.

Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,

up to the horns of the altar!

Then he moves back to first person because even though we are together its personal!!!!

28  You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

you are my God; I will extol you.

29  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

That’s why David said I will bless the Lord at all times.

I was glad when they said unto me let us go unto the house of the Lord!

The hebrew writer said we come together to stir up good works!

Helping one another encouraging one another. ( NASCAR example)