This last week Theo started saying the most beautiful and wise thing he had ever uttered, and for me, it will be something that sticks with me for a very long time. He started saying, “Today is a great day!” and I would respond, “Why do you think that?” His answer both surprised and delighted me, and he said in a matter-of-fact tone, “Because God made it.” Well, you could imagine my heart almost exploded. Now I know he is probably just combining things that he knows he has heard. We sing that portion of Psalm 118 almost weekly, but it made me extremely glad for him to verbalize it.
There is so much wisdom in Psalm 118; it was a hymn to be sung as the Jewish people walk into Jerusalem for any one of their festivals. As these religious pilgrims made their way into that great city, they would sing and recite this psalm and recount the goodness of God, regardless of present circumstances. Here it is in its entirety.
Psalms 118
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
the LORD answered me and set me free.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they went out like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the LORD exalts,
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we pray, O LORD!
O LORD, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
up to the horns of the altar!
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
This beautiful psalm begins by stating we can depend on God. That no matter what may be happening in our lives, we serve a good God that maintains an enduring love for His people. We cannot undervalue this statement; it opens and closes the song and acts as a thesis statement for the poem. This song mentions that it does not matter which dangers or threats arise; God will be there with them, provide salvation and deliverance from these attacks. The climax and the reason for our reflection on this psalm are verses 22- 24. The first singers of this psalm would reflect upon this statement, knowing that what the world rejects, God will make foundational. The world may think of something as foolish and unfit, but God will raise that object to be of utmost importance. They would have acknowledged that although Israel is not the strongest, most significant, or most prestigious, God still chose them to be His people. We look at this and reflect that we now know this was a prophecy pointing to our savior Jesus.
For this reason, we can look at each day with confidence, comfort, and contentment. It is not that the day itself will be significant because of what we put into it or what we are doing. The day is great because of who God is. And whether a day is “good” or “bad,” we can rejoice in each day because of who God is and what He has done. Think about the plagues that decided the fate of the Israelites in Egypt. Those days would probably not be recounted as pleasurable or “good.” Still, when you think about what those days accomplished for Israel, they were good because God worked it out for their benefit. Suppose we start each day by thanking God and knowing that the day will be good not because of its contents but because of the contentment of knowing the Creator. If we do this, our lives will be much better every day after that.
The day is good because God is good and faithful, and He is the one that made the day.
-Today is a great day!
Why?
-Because God made it!
Such a sweet little man Theo is becoming. They learn by what they see and Tom, you have always been of that mindset. I have never seen you dreading the day. Thank you for aharing. I am really enjoying your blogs!
Great thoughts and so comforting.
Thanks, Theo! Good to remember…always