This Is the Day the Lord Has Made
This is the day the Lord has made
The hymn celebrates Christ's resurrection and exhorts believers to rejoice in God's redemptive work, reflecting the Lutheran understanding that salvation is God's gracious gift to be received with grateful joy. It embodies the theological principle that Christian daily life is sanctified by God's providential care and the promise of resurrection.
History & Background
Isaac Watts published this paraphrastic hymn based on Psalm 118 in his 1719 collection 'Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament.' It became one of the most beloved hymns of the English-speaking church and has been included in virtually every major hymnal.
Hymnal Appearances
- Baptist Hymnal — 40
- Chalice Hymnal — 153
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 313
- Glory to God — 726
- The Hymnal 1982 — 48
- Lutheran Service Book — 903
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 204
- Lutheran Worship — 200
- New Century Hymnal — 67
- Trinity Hymnal — 442
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 10
- United Methodist Hymnal — 657
- Voices Together — 567
Bulletin Note
Isaac Watts (1674–1748), the 'father of English hymnody,' wrote this triumphant text in 1719. Its celebration of resurrection joy became a cornerstone of Protestant worship across centuries and denominational traditions.
Preaching Connection
This hymn's pure Gospel proclamation—calling us to rejoice in God's redemptive work without any law-driven obligation—perfectly echoes the apostolic witness that our salvation is finished and freely given in Christ.
Themes
Resurrection and joy God's providence Thanksgiving Celebration of salvation Daily Christian witness