The Most Shared Verses In Their Context (Psalm 118:24)

Mike Leake 6 Comments


At the end of last year, YouVersion highlighted the top 10 Bible verses that were shared the most. I found the list interesting and thought that it could be helpful to understand them in their original context. Today we are looking at Psalm 118:24—which according to YouVersion was the most shared verse in 2013.

The Verse:

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24 ESV)

The Context:

Psalm 113-118 are known as the Egyptian Hallel. These psalms were typical sang during Passover and other festivals. It is quite likely that Psalm 118 would have been the last song that Jesus sang with his disciples before going to the Garden of Gethsemane.

This Psalm is a call to worship God for his steadfast love and faithfulness. And his steadfast love and faithfulness is shown through his establishing of a king. Note that right before Psalm 118:24 is a verse that is oft-quoted in the NT.

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

Also note that 118:26 was shouted by the people during the triumphal entry of Jesus. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD!”

Clearly, then, Psalm 118:24 ought to be read in light of the exaltation of God’s King. We see this ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Meaning:

The key question of this text is, “what is ‘the day’ in which the Lord has made”. Surely it is theologically correct to say that the Lord creates every day and that every day ought to move us to worship. But is this text actually pointing to another ‘day’?

Some interpreters have this pointing to the Sabbath. (Spuregon was one of them). Personally, I believe that in the immediate context this is pointing to the day of the particular festival as a reminder of the goodness of the Lord in establishing his king. But this too is pointing to something even greater; namely, the establishment of Jesus Christ as the Eternal Davidic King.

So, what does it mean for us when we say, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”? I don’t know that one is wrong in celebrating each day as from the hand of the Lord. But I believe even more profoundly that this verse ought to draw us to thanksgiving to God for Christ being the established King. It is because of this event that we can truly rejoice in every day that the Lord has made.

As Christ left the upper room, singing with his disciples, “This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it” he knew everything that ‘this day’ would include. And yet it was for the joy set before him that he endured the Cross. And it is because of this same joy set before us that we can rejoice every day.

His King is in Zion. Today and Forever. Let us rejoice and be glad!

Today in Blogworld 06.16.14

Mike Leake

Perfectionism Will Ruin Your Writing

I’ve noticed in my own writing that most of the time I have “writer’s block” it is simply because I’m trying to write too perfectly.

10 Lessons From 10 Years of Public Schooling

I appreciate this perspective. We are taking the “A kid at a time, a school at a time, a year at a time” approach. Right now homeschooling seems like the best option for our family.

18 Restaurant Names That are Puns

This is hilarious. My favorite is Frying Nemo.

To My Dad

This is a tremendous piece of writing. I love the honesty. It also ministered to me as a father.

If you wanted to see a guy giving a goat a ride on a bike, then here it is:

Is Your Heart Ransacked? (YWS Week 23)

Mike Leake 2 Comments

Welcome to a year of reading Richard Sibbes together! The reading plan for the entire year can be accessed here. I encourage you to stick with us, allow yourself time to read, and soak in the riches of this gifted and prolific Puritan preacher. You will be edified and encouraged.

If you have trouble with how Sibbes used words, check out the Lexicons of Early Modern English for definitions from the period.

Nick is gone this week so you are stuck with my brief interaction with Sibbes.

Summary/Engagement

This week’s reading was on spiritual mourning. It is from two sermons that Sibbes preached from Matthew 5:4. From this text we see that “spiritual mourners are blessed men. He is an happy man that is a good mourner. He that can mourn for his sins, he is in a happy case.”

Of course not all mourning is spiritual mourning. There is a type of mourning—worldly mourning that is most unhelpful. But true spiritual mourning will never leave a many unhappy. Spiritual mourning is “when a man mourns in a spiritual manner, for spiritual things, upon spiritual motives.”

The rest of the reading is Sibbes aiming to prove that such a mourner will indeed be happy. He does this by showing the depth of the happiness of the mourner. And he proves his point by contrasting worldly sorrow with this spiritual sorrow. Worldly sorrow doesn’t have a bottom—or an end. But spiritual sorrow does—and it is met with the kindness and mercy of God.

Application/Further Discussion

The Lord used this reading to convict me deeply. I’ve lamented for awhile the fact that something is different in my heart than was present 4-5 years ago. I don’t feel as tender. I don’t feel as passionate. In reading through Sibbes, the Lord (I believe) has revealed to me what has happened.

Somewhere along the way I stopped believing that “godly mourning always doth a man good and never any hurt”. Yes, the guy that wrote Torn to Heal has begun to run away from the tearing of God. I’ve not actively pursued placing myself in a spot where the Lord would ransack my heart.

Formerly, in my devotional times I would ask probing questions of my heart. Things that were meant to reveal to me the depth of my sin and cause me to flee to Christ. I mostly stopped doing this. Waiting for the Lord to bruise me instead of actively placing myself in a position for spiritual mourning.

Reading through Sibbes I was reminded that I need to stop running from spiritual mourning. True spiritual mourning will not lead to depression. Depression, often, comes from worldly mourning and an absence of spiritual mourning.

So, Lord, ransack my heart!

I agree with Sibbes that, “God’s people should lay open themselves and give way to godly sorrow as much as possibly they can.” Yes, I believe such a thing can be abused and one can turn to morbidity. But I also believe that Sibbes is profoundly correct. And to this end I’ve once again taken up answering some of the questions from Keller and Powlison’s Pastoral Self-Evaluation Questionnaire.

What disciplines are in place in your life that stir up spiritual mourning?

The Most Shared Verses In Their Context (Philippians 4:13)

Mike Leake 1 Comment


At the end of last year, YouVersion highlighted the top 10 Bible verses that were shared the most. I found the list interesting and thought that it could be helpful to understand them in their original context. Today we are looking at Philippians 4:13—which according to YouVersion was the most “bookmarked, highlighted, and shared” verse in 2013.

The Verse:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 ESV)

The Context:

Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians while he was in prison. While there,  the Philippian church had continued their care for him, as well as their hope in seeing the gospel advance. But it appears that something had happened and the usual gift from the church at Philippi was slowed. Finally the gift arrived (Philippians 4:10) and Paul was overjoyed. Their gifts to Paul were a great encouragement to him, and so part of the reason for this letter is to thank them for their gift. 

Yet, Paul finds himself in a somewhat awkward spot. A spot that anyone that has relied on the generous financial gifts of others would understand. On one hand he wants to express the depth of his joy and thankfulness for the gift. But he also doesn’t want to overburden them and seem desperate or even as a beggar. So Paul, here, wants to say thanks but do it in such a way that the Philippians know and understand that even without their gift Paul would be provided for.

This is why in verse 11-12 Paul says that he has learned “in whatever situation I am to be content”. He has acquired what Jeremiah Burroughs called the rare jewel of Christian contentment. And so his joy is not dependent upon the Philippian gift. It is wonderful, it gives him great joy, and as he says in 4:14, “it was kind of you to share my trouble”. But at the same time Paul is fully reliant upon the Lord.

Hence Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthen me.” The all things is both being brought low and abounding. It is being fed and being on the brink of starvation. Paul can do both with deep contentment.

The Meaning:

Typically this verse is used to say that with the help of God we can do everything. We can throw unlikely touchdown passes, we can lift more weights, we can succeed in the stock market, ultimately, we can succeed at any task we attempt.

Paul is saying here that no matter what situation the Lord has him in he is able to have contentment. This verse is less about success and more about a deep an abiding joy. It doesn’t mean that you’ll throw a touchdown pass. It means that whether the pass hits the ground or the receivers hands in the end zone that the believer is able to be content.

This verse is not a promise. This verse is the result of a deep and abiding joy and contentment. But it is a deep and abiding joy and contentment that can be had by any believer that learns with the Paul “the secret of facing plenty and hunger…” That secret is that Jesus Christ is sufficient.

A great resource on this verse is The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. He was a Puritan so the language might be a bit tough at times—but overall Burroughs is readable and quite enjoyable. (Here is a .pdf is you don’t want a hard copy of it. It is also free on Kindle).