Psalm 118:24 “ This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

This is a beautiful Psalm about which there are many thoughts of the occasion for its writing and celebration. It is not unusual to see it copied on plaques, hanging where it can be seen, because the message is peaceful. The word for “day” here can mean a day or an era or a time. It is what God called the first day of creation, but we believe it means more here than just a beautiful day in its awesome, natural beauty that comes as an inspiring monument to God’s creative power which is seen in the rising sun. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Psalm 19:1) “Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their word to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.” “Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.” Psalm 19:4-5)

Many times the natural appearing of the day or a beautiful sunset holds us almost spellbound. Driving home from Church one Sunday evening and seeing the sun setting in the west over a river, shining through the cloud’s silver lining, we thought what man would charge for admission if he could create this attraction. The heavens are still declaring the glory of God, the sun as a strong man still making his chamber exit, not tired by passing millennia, running his appointed race, bringing light to our world.

The word for “day,” in Hebrew, has several different meanings. It can mean a certain time, as well as a twenty-four day.

We are blessed to live in a day/time that the Lord has made, a day of rejoicing, of gladness, because we are no longer under the dark shadows of the Law but the light of another time, which was ushered in when the Sun of righteousness came. Listen to what Malachi said “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” (Malachi 4:2)

The Lord made the day that David mentioned, and He made it according to His own righteous standards. He designed it and fulfilled every stipulation of the covenant of grace, the covenant drawn up by the Holy Trinity. “This is the day” that after the deep darkness brought on by sin and transgression by the first Adam “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit,” (1Corinthians 15:45) the first man Adam brought sin, darkness, and death; the last Adam brought the day which He had made. He made this glad day after His own pattern; no one else could do what He did. He crafted this day a day of perfection. We live in a time of sin and wickedness, yet His day, or this great dispensation of grace, is unmarred in itself by the feeble efforts to improve it. The mercy seat cannot be stretched larger than the Ark of the Covenant. God’s grace does not extend beyond His covenant, nor does it come short; this is a reason for rejoicing --we have seen His day.

This time we live in, today, under the dispensation of grace, was “made” to perfection: “The gold for things of gold and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?” (1Chronicles 29:5) David began to gather together great and precious material for the house of God, which his son would build, and to form and make the things used he gathered “artificers” who were willing to consecrate their service unto the Lord, “skilled and willing.” “Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;” (Proverbs 8:30) What is most amazing is that the word “brought up” is translated from the word “artificer.”

Christ was able to fulfill every requirement of God’s just and holy law, and He was willing to come into this world of sin and face the mal-treatment extended to Him by depraved and evil men. However, like the willing artificers of David, Christ was willing and consecrated to finish the work before Him, and after the darkness that covered Mount Calvary, light came back and He made the announcement that gave us this glad day of rejoicing: “IT IS FINISHED.” It is the theme of our gospel message. When the needed requirements were finished to that point all His suffering was over, He was never again to be spit upon or treated in a most shameful way, it is finished. “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”