Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24
There is something sacred about this hour. The sun is just beginning to rise. The darkness is giving way to light. And it is in moments like this that the message of Resurrection is felt as much as it is heard.
Psalm 118 is a song of victory, a declaration of deliverance, and a testimony of God’s saving power. But nestled within this psalm is a phrase that anchors our celebration today: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (v. 24).
On this day—God acted.
Not symbolically. Not theoretically. But decisively, powerfully, and eternally.
As the sun rises this morning, we remember another morning long ago when the Son rose—and everything changed.
I. On This Day, God Acted with Deliverance (vv. 1–2, 14–16)
The psalm opens with a call: “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
This is not casual gratitude—it is covenant praise. It is the recognition that God has stepped into human circumstances and brought deliverance.
The psalmist declares, “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” That word “salvation” speaks of rescue—God intervening where man could not save himself.
God acted to deliver.
Israel knew this in their history—delivered from Egypt, from enemies, from despair. But Easter morning reveals the ultimate deliverance.
At the cross, it looked like defeat. Jesus was crucified, buried, and sealed in a tomb. But on the third day—God acted.
He delivered His Son from death. And in doing so, He made a way to deliver us from sin.
The psalm continues: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly… the right hand of the Lord is exalted.”
That “right hand” represents God’s power. Resurrection morning is the greatest display of that power. Death could not hold Him. The grave could not contain Him.
So as the sun rises today, we are reminded:
God is still in the business of delivering.
He delivers from sin, from shame, from fear, and from hopelessness.
On this day, God acted—with deliverance.
II. On This Day, God Acted with Reversal (vv. 17–18, 22)
The psalmist makes a bold declaration: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”
That is resurrection language. That is victory language. What seemed final was not final.
Then we come to verse 22: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”
This is prophetic. It points directly to Jesus Christ.
He was rejected.
Rejected by religious leaders.
Rejected by the crowd.
Rejected, crucified, and laid in a borrowed tomb.
The stone was cast aside.
But on this day—God acted.
What man rejected, God raised.
What was dismissed, God declared essential.
What looked like the end, God turned into the beginning.
The resurrection is the great reversal.
Death became life.
Defeat became victory.
Despair became hope.
And this is not just about Jesus—it is about us.
God still works in reversals.
He takes broken lives and restores them.
He takes guilty sinners and declares them forgiven.
He takes endings and turns them into new beginnings.
Have you ever had a moment where it felt like everything was over? Where hope seemed gone?
Easter reminds us—God is not finished.
On this day, God acted—with reversal.
III. On This Day, God Acted with Invitation (vv. 19–21, 23–24)
The psalmist says, “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord.”
Because God has acted, there is now access. The gates are open.
Before Christ, sin separated us from God. But through His death and resurrection, the way has been made.
Verse 23 says, “This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Salvation is not man’s achievement—it is God’s action. We do not earn it; we receive it.
And then comes the declaration:
“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
This is not just any day.
This is the day God acted.
This is the day death was defeated.
This is the day salvation was secured.
And because of that, there is an invitation.
Rejoice.
Believe.
Enter in.
The resurrection is not just to be admired—it is to be embraced.
This morning, as the sun rises, God is still calling people to Himself. The gates are still open. The invitation still stands.
As we stand in the light of this new day, we remember that Resurrection Morning is not just about what happened—it is about what it means.
On this day, God acted:
He acted with deliverance—raising Jesus and rescuing us.
He acted with reversal—turning death into life and rejection into victory.
He acted with invitation—opening the way for all to come and believe.
So as the sun rises, let your heart rise with it.
Give thanks—because He is good.
Rejoice—because He is risen.
Believe—because salvation is near.
The darkness has passed.
The stone is rolled away.
The Savior is alive.
On this day—God acted. And because He did, we will rejoice and be glad in it.
