THIS IS THE DAY!
Psalm 118
Introduction:
Psalm 118 is a joyous psalm. Its one of celebration — but celebration in the midst of challenging times. It has a lot to say in it’s 29 verses, but maybe the most important thing it says to us is to VALUE THIS DAY! For, THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE!
As a boy, I was first introduced to these words through a song our church would sing — which makes perfect sense, because this psalm was a song (first sung by the people of Israel, and then the church).
Now, as you’ll see in a moment —this psalm, like the others we’ve studied leads us to FIND JESUS! So, as we begin, I want to encourage you to be on the look out for Him.
TRANSITION:
Well, in its original context…this is a psalm (attributed to David)…and was sung as a celebration. In fact, it was one of a group of psalms sung during the celebration of PASSOVER.
But, what David was celebrating was the difference God makes when He is welcomed into our day!
You know what I find interesting? It’s that David seems to say, VALUE THIS DAY. And yet, most everyone seems to live their lives focusing on another day. So often we choose to neglect this day and try to live in another.
— THE PAST: For some, the day they want to look to (MOST) is a day in their past.
Some people live all their lives in the rear view mirror. Always looking back…wanting to return to another day.
Maybe it’s because they loved the past so much. Maybe they loved a moment in time that is somewhere behind them now, and they dream of going back.
So people think of the past as their glory days….and would give anything to repeat it.
But for others, the past is filled with heartaches and pain. For them, they’d like to go back and change things.
Maybe we made a mistake, or hurt someone, or failed in some way…maybe our past is filled with sin and shame that we’d like to go back and wipe away. But we can’t. That day is gone.
What has happened in the past is past. We can’t change it — but we can be forgiven for it. But the good news is that God will NEVER hold us liable for those mistakes, or failures, or sins that we confess to him.
If we will give them to Him, then He’ll give his forgiveness tp us.
For others,…the day they want to look to the most is a day that hasn’t happened yet. It’s the FUTURE.
— THE FUTURE: A day yet to come.
I bet you know some people like this. They are always thinking, talking, hoping, longing, and looking for another day.
Sometimes they say things like:
—I’ll be glad when this week is over. Or…
—I can’t wait to get out of high school.
I once heard of a man who spent his entire life living in the future. When he was a young man, his quite wealthy father had said to him, “When I die all this will be yours.”
And from that day on, he lived in the future…just waiting for his dad to die. He lived his whole life planning for the fortune he was going to receive. Because of this, he never planned for a career and didn’t pursue his education or any trade. He wasn’t worried about a job.
He just went on from day to day dreaming about what he was going to do.
The problem for him was that his dad was a strong and healthy man. And so, even when the man turned 70, his father was still living.
That man wasted his entire life looking forward to a day that may have never come.
I’ve witnessed this kind of thinking first hand (as a pastor).
I’ll never forget how, several years ago now…I had a couple attend our church who just sat and watched. They never got involved in the life and ministry of our church. They just watched from a distance.
For years I begged them to get involved. Time and time again I’d ask. I even went to their house and sat with them and begged them to serve, to participate, to get involved in a small group or bible study. Anything.Just don’t be observers — participate.
But time snd time again they turned me down, their reason was they were certain that God was going to direct them to move it of state. Bu they didn’t want to be too involved — so they could leave easier.
Well, what they thought would be days, turned to weeks, and then to months, and then to years.
They finally did move away. But it was some ten years later.
Sadly, that couple spent ten long years sitting in the sidelines, unwilling to get on the field because they were…looking to another day. But their interest to look for another day, caused them to miss the opportunity to live in the one in which they had been placed.
Well, the truth is, we don’t own the future. We have no claim to it.
For that reason, the Bible urges us to live in this day!
And that because THIS DAY IS THE DAY HE HAS MADE. More than that, David tells us:
1. THIS IS THE DAY OF GOD’S LOVE.
Just look at what David says in Psalm 118. In the first 4 verses he says, THIS IS THE DAY OF GOD’S LOVE. Look at it with me. David writes:
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 2 Let all Israel repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.” 3 Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.” 4 Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1-4 (NLT)
Notice again, in verse 1, David says — give thanks…acknowledge God’s goodness…and His love. Celebrate it — and GIVE THANKS. Why? Because, His faithful love endures forever.
So what LOVE?
I know we tend to use the word love for any and everything…and because of that, it really cheapens the authenticity and wonder of LOVE. But don’t think of God’s love like you our love.
Because, our love is sometimes seems petty. Right? Think about it. We say things like:
—I love tacos, or
—I watching sports, or
—I love to sleep in tomorrow.
Lately, I’ve loved the Hawaiian Shaved Ice from Penguinos Hermanos. (O man are they good!) But, that’s not real love. And it’s that really the problem with our love — it’s just too small. But know this — God’s love is great. It’s so much deeper and more majestic. In fact, David uses a Hebrew word for LOVE — the Hesed. And that’s a really strong word. Hesed is not merely an emotion or feeling but involves action. The BIG idea of this word is that it communicates total loyalty or faithfulness within a relationship.
It goes beyond what’s expected. It gives the impression of someone who does more. And goes further. It’s what’s expected…AND THEN SOME! In fact, the message of the gospel—and God’s act of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus is rooted in God’s hesed kind of love.
And so, David tells us that no matter what anyone else may offer — God gives those in His family a love that surpasses every other love. And more than that — IT IS ETERNAL.
So, as David tells us, this is a good day — because, even when things are bad, GOD’S lOVE continues. It’s what Jeremiah understood…and expressed in the book of lamentations. Which was a a story of sorrow and grief after the desolation of his nation. While things were bad—and he was grieving — even so, he said,
“Because of the Lord’s great love, (His HESED) we are not consumed, for his mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).
That’s what David was getting at — and so he says, “The love of God endures forever.” And this is true for all of us…no matter you status in life. So he says,
2 Let all Israel repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.” 3 Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.” 4 Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
His point was you don’t have to be a SOMEBODY to receive God’s love — As long as you know Jesus and have experienced salvation…then you can give God praise, because His Love ENDURES FOREVER.
That one fact changes everything. It takes an ORDINARY day, and makes it EXTRAORDINARY. Because, this is the day of God’s love! So LIVE IN THIS DAY!
In addition to this, David leads us to discover another thing worth celebrating. And it’s that…
2. THIS IS THE DAY OF GOD’S HELP.
In the next series of verses the Psalmist describes the challenge of life. Things were bad. Nothing was going his way. And yet, in the midst of it all — God was aware!
More than that God was there. And, He was there to HELP!
Look with me at verse 5. Here David writes:
5 In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. 6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.What can mere people do to me? 7 Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
Psalm 118:5-7 (NLT)
In verses 8-12, David describes the battles he faced — and yet, again and again, God empowered Him to overcome. But look down at verse 13, here David picks up this them of God’s help again when he writes,
13 My enemies did their best to kill me, but the Lord rescued me. 14 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. 15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things! 16 The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things! 17 I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done. 18 The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not let me die.
Psalm 118:13-18 (NLT)
Remember, this is a testimony of David — recognizing that TODAY IS THE DAY OF GOD’S HELP! But it’s also a prophetic statement that speaks of one who would come — The messiah, Jesus the Christ.
Okay, I need to tell you — that this Psalm was a special psalm known as a Hallel Psalm. It was one of the psalms that God’s people would sing during Passover. As they remembered the way God had been their help back in Egypt — when the death angel had passed over all those homes which had been bathed in the Blood of the Lamb.
But the gospels tell us that Jesus and His disciples — on the night of His betrayal, gathered together and sang. And this is one of those songs they would have sung. And it brings so much meaning to this — when you think of Jesus sing these words in verse 17.
17 I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done.
And so, this is where we FIND JESUS again in this psalms. Because, just as these words profess — Jesus went to the cross with the full confidence of His resurrection. Though he would die, yet would He live! And that’s what verse 18 says,
‘18 The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not let me die.
Understand, this psalm isn’t describing an easy day — but, it’s a DAY OF HELP!
And just as it was for David — so is it for you and me.
No matter what you’re facing in life today, God is present, He is aware of your need, and He will be your help!
So be encouraged today.
YOU CAN TRUST THAT GOD WILL BE YOUR HELP…
EACH AND EVERY DAY!
So LIVE IN THIS DAY!
Well, finally, David leads us to discover one final thing worth celebrating.
This IS THE DAY OF GOD’S LOVE,
This IS THE DAY OF GOD’S HELP. And lastly…
3. THIS IS THE DAY OF GOD’S SON.
In verse 19, David writes:
9 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter; and I will go in and thank the Lord. 20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there.
Psalm 118:19-20 (NLT)
More than speaking of the temple — David was prophetically pointing to Jesus.
Even Jesus would testify to this in John 10:9, Jesus affirms this — when He says,
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.”
Well, David continues in verse 21 — as He tells us TODAY IS THE DAY OF GOD’S SON, when he writes,
21 I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory! 22 The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
Psalm 118:21-22 (NLT)
Here again, we find Jesus in this psalm. As the cornerstone — David is saying Jesus is our foundation.
Everything that God created you to be must be founded upon — and rooted in Jesus. This psalm reminds us that IF WE TRY TO LIVE on our own — we will come up short. The ONLY WAY to really live…is to build our lives on Jesus.
So, let your identity be defined by Jesus.
Let your Interests be defined by Jesus.
Let you hopes and dreams be defined by Jesus.
Let you attitude be defined by Jesus.
Let your life be defined by Jesus.
And all of this can be true — because Jesus became our salvation. So David says,
23 This is the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see. 24 This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:23-24 (NLT)
The day David is describing was the day Jesus paid the price of our sin on the cross.
And THAT day, was THEE day…and because of THAT DAY we can REJOICE TODAY!
Because, THAT DAY changes EVERY DAY!
Well, David closes this psalm with a cry of faith…as he says, in verse 25,
25 Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. 26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, shining upon us. Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 118:25-29 (NLT)
And, so — he ends where he began…as He says,
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 118:1-29 (NIV)
So, LIVE IN THIS DAY!
Conclusion:
As we end this morning, I want to remind you that TODAY IS THE DAY for you to trust God. Because,
This IS THE DAY OF GOD’S LOVE,
And…This IS THE DAY OF GOD’S HELP.
And…This IS THE DAY OF GOD’S SON.
So, live this day for Him.
Since you can’t live in the past, and you can’t live in the future —
Make sure you LIVE TODAY FOR JESUS!
CLOSING PRAYER:
Let’s pray…Heavenly Father, we thank you for Jesus. Thank you for your grace and mercy and unending love that makes everyday a great day. Touch our lives with you glory and grace. And make us more like you. Help us, God, to rejoice this day and to trust You. No day could be better than that! We pray this in Jesus name! Amen.
And now, just one more thing: If you’re here this morning, and you’ve listened to everything we’ve said toady — from the worship and testimonies to the message, and through it all, you sense God stirring your heart to trust in Him. To seek Him. To know Him, would you respond by lifting your hand today— to let me know that your want to know Jesus. (Saying, “I want to be saved today?”)
If that’s you, would you be brave enough to slip your hand up and acknowledge that today? As you do, a ministry team member is going to bring you a card (so that you have a tangible way to respond), to God’s prompting in your life today.
Yes, we are so proud of you! In light of your desire to surrender your life to Jesus, would you pray with me? Maybe you’d say something like this:
Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinner and I’ve chosen my way over yours too often. But all that changes today. Because, I believe in Your Son, Jesus. I believe that He came from Heaven to earth to pay for my sin. I believe He died on the cross, shed His blood, was put in a grave — and rose again. So, today — I put my faith in Jesus. Forgive me of my sin. Save me and give me new life in you forever. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
If you prayed today and made a decision to follow Jesus — would you let us know? We are so proud of you.This is the greatest decision you’ll ever make.