Psalms 118:25-26
Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase translated as "Save now" isn't just a simple request for help; it's a plea for immediate deliverance. This urgency is amplified by the repeated plea, emphasizing Israel's constant, ongoing dependence on God's intervention, not just for a single moment, but for sustained presence and success.
This verse erupts as a fervent cry from a people celebrating a great victory or the installation of their king. Following a triumphant procession through the gates of righteousness, they urgently call out to God, acknowledging their complete dependence on His continued favor. It's a prayer that echoes through history, from ancient royal processions to Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the same plea for salvation and success was shouted.
That powerful cry, 'Save us!' is more than a simple plea. It's a recognition of our deepest need and God's ultimate power.
When the Psalmist cries out, 'Save us, O LORD!' and 'give us success!', he's not just asking for a one-time rescue.
Constant Dependence
This prayer reveals a profound understanding of humanity's ongoing need for God. It acknowledges that every moment, every success, hinges on God's continuous action and presence. It's not a prayer for a crisis, but a posture for a lifetime.
The Word 'Hosanna'
The original Hebrew captures this urgency. The repeated plea, translated as 'Save now, we pray,' echoes the very word 'Hosanna.' This isn't just a plea for rescue; it's an intense cry for God to continue to save and to actively bring about victory and well-being. It’s a vibrant, living prayer.
You might know this cry from a very famous parade into Jerusalem. What does that connection tell us about God's kingly work?
The phrase 'Save now, we pray' is the root of the word 'Hosanna.' This cry wasn't just for any king, but specifically for God's chosen ruler.
King Jesus' Entry
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds shouted 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' (Matthew 21:9). They were echoing this ancient prayer, recognizing Jesus as their long-awaited King, the one who brings salvation and divine blessing.
Divine Success
'Give us success!' isn't about worldly prosperity alone. For the King, it means victory over enemies, the spread of His kingdom, and the flourishing of His divine purposes. It's a prayer for God's reign to be powerfully established, just as it was prayed for earthly kings in anticipation of God's work.
Understand the original words
yasha · Hebrew Verb
An urgent plea for divine intervention, deliverance, or rescue; famously echoed in the New Testament as 'Hosanna' (Hoshana).
na · Hebrew Particle (interjection)
An earnest request or petition, often directed toward God, acknowledging dependence on His favor and sovereign will.
tsalach · Hebrew Verb
To experience divine favor, breakthrough, or the successful outcome of an endeavor through God's blessing rather than human merit alone.
baruk · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
To be brought into a state of spiritual favor, happiness, or divine prosperity by God. It signifies the bestowal of divine favor and the pronouncement of God's approval.
The heartfelt cry 'Save us, we pray!' wasn't just a desperate plea; it was deeply rooted in Israel's history. From celebrating kings and rebuilding temples to facing exile and anticipating the Messiah, this prayer connected a tangible need for deliverance with the enduring hope found in God's promises.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David Becomes King of All Israel
After uniting the tribes of Israel, David is established as their sole king, a significant moment of national unity and divine favor.
c. 970 BC
Temple Construction Begins
David's son, Solomon, begins building the First Temple in Jerusalem, a monumental project signifying God's dwelling place among His people.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroying the city and the First Temple, leading to the exile of many Israelites.
c. 520 BC
Temple Reconstruction Begins
After returning from exile, the Jewish people begin rebuilding the Second Temple under Zerubbabel, facing opposition but encouraged by prophets.
This passage directly links to Psalm 118:25, showing how the crowd used the cry 'Hosanna' (which means 'Save now') when welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem, highlighting the Messianic hopes tied to this prayer.
John 12:13This verse further illustrates the application of Psalm 118:25 in the context of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, demonstrating how the 'Hosanna' cry was understood as a plea for salvation and recognition of Jesus as King.
Nehemiah 1:11Nehemiah's prayer echoes the structure and sentiment of Psalm 118:25, asking for success and prosperity for his work, showing the enduring nature of this plea for God's favor in times of significant undertaking.
Jeremiah 31:7This prophetic call to 'sing with gladness for Jacob' and 'shout for the chief of the nations' shares the spirit of joyful petition found in Psalm 118:25, looking forward to God's salvation and restoration.
Psalm 116:4The repetition of 'O LORD, save me' in Psalm 116:4 parallels the earnest plea in Psalm 118:25, revealing a consistent theme of crying out to God for deliverance in moments of distress and dependence.
pulpitPsalms 118:25: "Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity."
Verse 25. - Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord; or, "we beseech thee." The interjectional אנא is as suitable to the several speakers as to one. O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity; i.e. continue to save, continue to send prosperity. Israel feels its constant dependence upon God, and that if the Divine care were remitted for a day, or for an hour, all would be lost. Tears, as Professor Cheyne ob…
clarkePsalms 118:25: "Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity."
Save now, I beseech thee - These words were sung by the Jews on the feast of tabernacles, when carrying green branches in their hands; and from the הושיעה נא hoshiah nna, we have the word hosanna. This was sung by the Jewish children when Christ made his public entry into Jerusalem. See Matthew 21:9 (note), and see the note there, in which the word and the circumstance are both explained.
The phrase translated as "Save now" isn't just a simple request for help; it's a plea for immediate deliverance. This urgency is amplified by the repeated plea, emphasizing Israel's constant, ongoing dependence on God's intervention, not just for a single moment, but for sustained presence and success.
This verse erupts as a fervent cry from a people celebrating a great victory or the installation of their king. Following a triumphant procession through the gates of righteousness, they urgently call out to God, acknowledging their complete dependence on His continued favor. It's a prayer that echoes through history, from ancient royal processions to Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the same plea for salvation and success was shouted.
This verse erupts as a fervent cry from a people celebrating a great victory or the installation of their king. Following a triumphant procession through the gates of righteousness, they urgently call out to God, acknowledging their complete dependence on His continued favor. It's a prayer that echoes through history, from ancient royal processions to Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the same plea for salvation and success was shouted.
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YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of the Creator God of Israel, revealing His eternal, self-existent nature as the I AM. It is the name through which He makes His character and saving works known to His people.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah leads the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, facing significant political and social challenges.
Early 1st century AD
Festival of Tabernacles Celebrations
The prayer 'Save now!' (Hosanna!) becomes a traditional cry during the Feast of Tabernacles, a time of harvest thanksgiving and remembrance.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus enters Jerusalem welcomed by crowds shouting 'Hosanna to the Son of David!', directly echoing the cry from Psalm 118, linking it to the Messiah.
"Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD." — The phrase translated as "Save now" isn't just a simple request for help; it's a plea for immediate deliverance. This urgency is amplified by the repeated plea, emphasizing Israel's constant, ongoi…
