Psalm 118:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

NIV: The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

NASB: This is the day which the Lord has made; Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.

CSB: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

NLT: This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

KJV: This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

NKJV: This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Many believers are familiar with this expression. It is used in songs, poetry, church greetings, and artwork. Typically, the statement is interpreted to mean that "today" is God's creation, so we should celebrate it. That application is appropriate, given what Scripture says about thankfulness and joy through the Lord (Psalm 40:16; Philippians 4:4; Ephesians 5:20). Everyone who places trust in God (Psalm 84:12) has reason to be joyful no matter their circumstances (Romans 8:18, 28).

However, the original meaning of this statement might refer to a different meaning of "day." This is part of a series of psalms (Psalm 113—118) used during festivals such as Passover or the Feast of Booths (Deuteronomy 16:16). The psalmist may refer to the holiday as something the Lord has created, so it should be a source of rejoicing.

Another possibility is that "the day" is used in the prophetic sense. The Old Testament often speaks of God's ultimate victory over sin and death, or His return in judgment, as "that day," "the day," or "the day of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:12; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 1:15; Amos 5:18; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5). The same is true of the New Testament, where such references are almost always about the end times (Acts 2:20; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 6:17; 16:14). The kingdom age where Christ rules the world in person can also be described using such phrases (Isaiah 12:3–4; Micah 4:1–4).

Any or all of these meanings are reasonable ways to interpret this verse. Believers of the past, present, and future all have excellent reasons to rejoice in the Lord, every day.

Psalm 118:19–29 includes phrases used during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:8–9). References to gates, cornerstones, and salvation are themes repeated frequently in the Bible (John 10:9; Matthew 7:13–14; Titus 2:11; 1 Peter 2:6). Similar ideas about entering through gates to praise God are found in Psalm 24:7–10 and Psalm 26:6–8.

Psalm 118 appears to be a "call and response." The repeated phrases may have been spoken by a congregation after the prompts, read by a song leader. The psalmist begins with a declaration of God's loyal love and its expression by all of Israel. Next is a celebration of the Lord's rescue and the value of honoring Him. Despite Israel's many powerful neighbors, God preserved them through discipline and exile, not allowing the nation to die. What the world rejects has now become the key piece of God's plan for mankind.

This is the last of a block of songs used during Israel's festivals (Psalm 113—118). Because of a mention of rescue from Egypt (Psalm 114:1), this block is sometimes called the "Egyptian Hallel." The Hebrew expression halelu-yāh is a call to "praise the Lord!" The New Testament quotes from this song often (Hebrews 13:6), especially Psalm 118:22 (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7) and Psalm 118:26 (Matthew 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13;). Some scholars suggest this was written after the exile as the temple was being restored (Ezra 2:1; 3:1–2, 8).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.