There are many anthems and hymns that have been inspired by this scripture verse. One of the great hymns of the church is by Isaac Watts and is hymn 50 in our hymnal. The children have often sung an anthem by Natalie Sleeth based on this verse and extending it to the Easter celebration. Mary West has a sign in her office which has altered the second half of the verse: “This is the day the Lord has made; don’t mess it up.”
All of these interpretations and uses combine in an anthem the choir is preparing for the 28th. John Rutter was commissioned or asked to compose an anthem for the wedding of HRH Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton. It was performed for the first time in Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011. [Yes, I was watching.] Rutter begins with the above words from Psalm 118 and goes on to add appropriate verses from chapters 148, 91, 121, and 27. We’ll try not to “mess it up.” |
This is the day, the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, the day which the Lord hath made:
we will rejoice and be glad in it, this is the day.
O praise the Lord of heav’n: praise him in the height.
Praise him, all ye angels of his: praise him, all his host.
Praise him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light,
let them praise the Name of the Lord;
For he shall give his angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways,
to keep thee in all thy ways, to keep thee in all thy ways.
The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;
So that the sun shall not burn thee by day: neither the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in:
from this time forth, from this time forth, from this time forth for evermore.
He shall defend thee, he shall defend thee, he shall defend thee under his wings,
he shall defend thee, he shall defend thee, he shall defend thee under his wings.
Be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart, shall comfort thine heart;
and put thou thy trust, thy trust in the Lord, put thou thy trust in the Lord,
thy trust in the Lord, in the Lord. |
