I woke to a violently vomiting dog and a fiercely bleeding nose. Good Morning!
After all the messes were dealt with and cleaned up, all I really wanted to do was crawl back into bed and start over. Surely, another try at this waking up thing couldn’t be as bad as the first time.
But what if it was? What if the next time I woke up, another little piece of my life became messy or broken or fell apart completely?
Would this still be “the day that the Lord has made”? Should I still “rejoice and be glad in it”?
Chances are, my first response wouldn’t include those two phrases. Frustration with my situation would likely trump a thankful, “glad” heart. A bad attitude would be crouching at the door just waiting to pounce on my mind. To have its way with my soul. Everything in me would probably lean toward wallowing in self-pity.
But with a huge wad of toilet paper up my nose, I decided to look once again at the verse that reminded me that THIS day was ordained – Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
It’s not just a phrase. It’s a declaration! THIS is the day that the LORD has made; LET US rejoice and be glad in it. A cause and effect kind of thing – BECAUSE this is the day that the Lord has made, WE WILL rejoice and be glad in it.
But I wanted to know more. I wanted to understand the context around this verse. What else did David say when he wrote this?
Psalm 118 –
Give thanks to the LORDfor he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.” In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answeredby setting me free.
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
I highlighted everything that tells who God is and what He does. The REASONS we are able to recognize that THIS is the day that the Lord has made and that we CAN rejoice and be glad in it. That verse comes after David recites all that God has been to him and done for him and his nation. And it’s all neatly summed up in the last phrase of the chapter – “…he is good; his love endures forever.” Our only response to such great goodness can only be thankfulness.
THAT’S why I can rejoice and be glad for this day. Because He is GOOD and HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. It is the backdrop and setting for anything that comes my way. It is the truth that gives perspective to whatever I wake up to on any given day. It isn’t changed by circumstances or shifts in my world.
Not even dog vomit or bloody noses.
This IS the day. I WILL rejoice!
