Les Garrett
A faithful, singable Scripture chorus rooted in Psalm 118:24 that has served congregations well for over 50 years. Its simplicity is its strength: direct biblical language, memorable melody, and clear celebratory focus. The song functions as excellent corporate call to worship or responsive praise. Minor considerations include limited theological scope and high repetition, but these are appropriate to the genre and liturgical function.
Five lenses
The song is a near-direct quotation of Psalm 118:24, expanding the biblical text with responsive celebration. The opening declaration mirrors the psalmist's call to recognize God's sovereign work in time. The responsive action, calling for rejoicing and gladness, follows the grammatical and theological structure of the original Hebrew parallelism. No theological liberties are taken; the song functions as sung Scripture with congregational response.
The theological message is uncomplicated and orthodox: God is sovereign over time, and the appropriate human response is joy. The song assumes the psalmist's theology of divine sovereignty and covenant faithfulness. It functions doxologically, directing worshipers toward gratitude rather than petition. The brevity is not a flaw but a genre feature; Scripture choruses are meant to be brief, memorable, and repeatable. In Baptist worship, this pairs well with pastoral commentary that grounds the celebration in resurrection hope or deliverance.
The melody is exceptionally accessible: stepwise motion, narrow range, and predictable phrasing. The song was written for congregational participation and has proven its singability across five decades of use. The repetition aids memorization. The only technical consideration is the ceiling note; in the original key of Eb, the repeated high Eb can strain untrained male voices. Transposing to D major brings the range to A3-D5, which sits comfortably for mixed congregations.
The lyric is not attempting literary complexity; it is attempting scriptural fidelity and congregational memorability, in which it succeeds completely. The language is simple, direct, and unadorned. The repetition is not a flaw but a feature of the Scripture chorus genre, designed for ease of participation and meditative focus. The poetic quality is found in the original psalm, not in the songwriter's embellishment. This is a strength, not a weakness, for a song meant to serve as sung Scripture.
This song is nearly immune to theological objection because it is Scripture quotation. The most common critique is aesthetic rather than doctrinal: some prefer more complex, contemplative worship and find the celebratory repetition simplistic. This is a matter of liturgical preference, not theological fidelity. The song has endured because it does one thing exceptionally well: it gives congregations a simple, joyful, biblically grounded way to begin worship. Baptist worship leaders can use this with full confidence in its scriptural integrity and ecclesial usefulness.
Full analysis
This song represents the Scripture chorus movement at its best: a direct quotation from the psalter made singable for congregational worship. Written in 1967 during the early charismatic renewal, it emerged from a moment when churches were rediscovering the power of simple, repetitive, Scripture-saturated song. The choice to set Psalm 118:24 was inspired; this verse has functioned as a worship call in Jewish and Christian liturgy for centuries. The melody is deliberately accessible, designed to be learned instantly and sung by everyone. Over 50 years later, the song remains in active use because it does its job exceptionally well.
The theological strength of this song is its refusal to elaborate beyond the biblical text. Where some worship songs add layers of theological commentary or personal application, this song simply presents the psalmist's declaration and invites the congregation to respond. The structure is call and response: God has made this day (objective reality), therefore we will rejoice and be glad (volitional response). This is covenant theology in miniature: God acts, and his people respond in gratitude and obedience. The first-person plural pronoun ensures this remains a corporate act, not an individualistic celebration.
For Baptist worship leaders, this song functions best as a liturgical element rather than a standalone worship experience. It excels as a call to worship, setting the tone for the service by grounding the congregation in Scripture and directing attention to God's sovereign work. It can also serve as a responsive song after the reading of Scripture, particularly from the psalms or resurrection narratives. The repetition is not filler; it is meditative focus, allowing the congregation to internalize the truth that this day, this moment, exists because God made it. In a culture that treats time as a commodity to be managed, the song re-orients worshipers to see time as a gift to be received with joy.
The only practical consideration is the song's brevity. It works beautifully in short bursts, but extended repetition without variation can feel thin. Worship leaders might pair it with instrumental breaks, spontaneous prayer, or scriptural readings to create space within the repetition. The song also benefits from thoughtful key selection; the original Eb major can push male voices to uncomfortable heights on the repeated high note. Transposing to D major preserves the celebratory energy while accommodating a wider vocal range. This song has earned its place in the Baptist worship repertoire because it gives congregations a simple, joyful, biblically faithful way to begin worship. Use it with confidence.
Defense brief
Who raises this: Liturgically traditional members, those preferring hymnic complexity.
Psalm 118:24 is itself a brief, declarative verse meant for corporate repetition in temple worship. Brevity and repetition are not signs of theological shallowness but of liturgical function. Not every song must bear the weight of a full systematic theology. Scripture choruses serve a distinct purpose: they make Scripture singable and memorable.
This song functions as a call to worship, inviting the congregation into the service with scriptural focus. It pairs beautifully with more theologically expansive songs that follow. Think of it as the opening sentence of a worship conversation, not the entire sermon.
Who raises this: Theologically Reformed or gospel-centered pastors.
Psalm 118 is not generic optimism; it is a song of deliverance, celebrating God's specific saving acts. The psalmist is rejoicing in rescue from enemies and vindication by the Lord. In Christian use, this psalm is read through the lens of resurrection: the day the Lord has made is Easter, the day death is defeated. The song's brevity does not negate this; it assumes it.
Introduce the song with a brief word connecting it to God's specific saving work. In a Lent or Easter context, this is the resurrection cry. In ordinary time, it can be a celebration of God's ongoing faithfulness. The song's simplicity allows it to carry different layers of meaning depending on the liturgical moment.
Scripture map
Primary foundations
Supporting connections
Story behind the song
Les Garrett wrote this song in 1967 during the early years of the charismatic renewal and Scripture in Song movement. The movement emphasized accessibility, Scripture saturation, and congregational participation, often drawing directly from the Psalms.
Scripture in Song historical records
The song quickly became a staple in charismatic and evangelical worship, crossing denominational lines because of its simplicity and biblical fidelity. It has been particularly popular in children's ministry and intergenerational worship settings.
CCLI usage data and worship leader interviews
The melody and structure reflect the folk-influenced worship style of the late 1960s, prioritizing singability and memorability over musical complexity. This made it accessible to congregations without trained musicians or printed music.
Worship music historical analysis
Themes
Sermon series fit
Audience fit
Maturity
All levels. Accessible to new believers, meaningful for mature saints, excellent for children.
Age group
Intergenerational. The simplicity and melody appeal to children while the scriptural depth honors adults.
Service type
Sunday morning celebration, children's worship, outdoor services, festivals, Easter sunrise service.
Visitor-friendly
Extremely high. The repetition and simplicity allow visitors to participate immediately without hymnals or screens.
Special contexts
Weddings (celebration of new beginnings), dedications, church anniversaries, any gathering celebrating God's faithfulness.
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