“This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it”.
How many times have we quoted this verse, expressing our confidence that God ordained the day, that He is therefore in full control of it, and that we can rejoice in it? But is this day (Psalm 118:24) just like any other day of the week… or is it special?
Location, Location, Location
To help answer that, let’s look at the strategic placement of this verse. We understand how important location is in our lives. When buying a house, isn’t it often about location? Does the neighborhood have good schools for the children? Are there enough restaurants or stores nearby? Is there a congregation or church I want to attend that’s close by?
Similarly, location is important when we seek to better understand and appreciate Scripture. Scripture isn’t arranged randomly; there is order and purpose behind where passages and entire books are placed. Some scholars point out that the order of the minor prophets is organized thematically rather than strictly in chronological order.
Have you noticed the connection between Psalm 22, 23, and 24? First, we see details indicating the Messiah’s crucifixion and His death. Without that, we cannot have Psalm 23, which describes His personal shepherding in our lives. The ultimate Shepherd must first die for His flock. Then, He will return in full glory as the Messianic King (Psalm 24), completing this Messianic trio of Psalms. Beautiful order!
So, having established that the location of scripture is important, let’s explore more about that verse which says, “This is the day that the Lord has made…”.
First, let’s step back and see that Psalm 118 is part of the Hallel Psalms, which include Psalms 113-118. These are a special group of praise psalms that the early Jewish community saw as clearly messianic, pointing to the great time of the Lord’s redemption of His people. The respected commentator, Rabbi Rashi, explicitly called Psalm 118 messianic. They were recited on special holidays, including Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.
From the Gospels, we learn that after the Passover meal, the disciples and likely Yeshua also sang together before heading to the Mount of Olives. The psalm they sang contains powerful messianic connections, with our verse 24 included.
But let’s first revisit two verses earlier, specifically Psalm 118:22, which states: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” When originally written, it likely referred to either David or the nation of Israel, both of whom faced rejection. However, in the Gospels, we see Yeshua applying this same passage to Himself, illustrating His rejection.
Here, we see the stone that builders thought was worthless and threw away actually becoming the cornerstone. God chose the rejected shepherd boy, David, and anointed him as king. He also continues to promise to protect and defend Israel from all persecution.
Finally, and most importantly, this is applied to the Messiah, showing how God took the rejected and crucified Yeshua and exalted Him to be the cornerstone—the solid foundation upon which we can find security in this life. Is this not a marvelous thing?
The next verse, 23, describes how marvelous this is—coming from the root word *pele*, meaning extraordinary and wonderful—how marvelous it is in our eyes. It is the Lord’s doing, not due to any human effort. Then we come to verse 24: “This is the day that the Lord has made.” This marks the great day of human salvation, the day of our redemption, confirmed by His resurrection. He is the firstfruits, and we are those who will follow. So, we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is not just another day on the calendar; it is the day that has impacted our eternal future!
So, the next time we quote this verse, consider not only the day that you’re in, but the history of redemption both behind you and ahead. That’s a lot to think about from just one verse!
So we see how important this verse’s location is along with its significant implications.
Personal Location
And speaking of location, we might ask ourselves, Should I be where I am now? Am I at the right place in my life? Did circumstances happen because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time? That phrase, ‘wrong place at the wrong time,’ suggests fate and chance are the main factors influencing our lives. But that idea fundamentally conflicts with God’s sovereignty.
How do we feel when we read about someone who was accidentally or tragically killed in a car accident? These incidents are heartbreaking; however, we must ask: are these cases simply about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or does the Word of God teach us something different? Nothing happens outside His knowledge. Psalm 139:16 reminds us that all the days ordained for us were written in His book, even before they took shape or form. Is this a God of chance, and is our life or current location just a matter of luck? God is a God of order, and nothing happens by chance. Can you be in the wrong place at the wrong time? Not without God’s foreknowledge.
Your Heart’s Zip Code
And what about being in the right place at the right time? Is that also due to chance?
Let’s consider a few examples of being in the right place at the right time. How about Joseph’s move to Egypt, which was perfect timing that saved the nation of Israel? What about Ruth, a Moabite in Israel—talk about location! She was sent to glean barley behind the harvesters and ended up in Boaz’s field. She was in the right place at the right time because Boaz took notice of her. Let’s fast forward a few centuries and we find Esther, who was also in the right place at the right time. She, too, helped save a nation.
Indeed, each one is in the right place at the right time. But it’s not just about physical location; it also involves the response, right?
Joseph, in his incredible forgiveness; Ruth, in her humility and obedience; and Esther, in her trust, each responded rightly when placed in the position God ordained.
So, while we might be at the right place at the right time, are we responding rightly? And even if we are in the “wrong place at the wrong time”, are we still reacting rightly? Check out the responses of Joseph, Peter, and Paul while in jail… wrong location, we might say, nevertheless, a right and correct response.
There is no “Wrong place where God isn’t.”
He rules and governs everywhere. No matter where we are, our duty is to respond rightly. So, wherever we are in life, the only place we need to be is in the security, comfort, will, and knowledge of our God. And wherever we are, He can give us the wisdom to respond appropriately. The right response turns a wrong place into a right one.
This is the day that God has made, so let’s see how marvellous a thing it can be in our eyes.