Psalms 118:25-27
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 LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just a simple cry for help; the repetition of "O LORD, we pray" emphasizes a deep, constant dependence on God, not just for rescue, but for ongoing success and flourishing in His plans. It's a profound acknowledgment that every good thing we receive is a continuation of His favor, not a one-time miracle.
This psalm seems to be a celebration of a great victory or a coronation, with people calling out to God to save and prosper their leader. Following verses that express confidence in God's help and the triumph over enemies, this cry for salvation and success is a fervent plea for continued divine favor. It echoes a timeless yearning for God's intervention, a plea that would later be heard in the shouts welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem.
Ever heard the word 'Hosanna'? It's more than just a Sunday song! This ancient cry is packed with meaning, revealing a deep human longing and a powerful divine promise.
The cry "Save us, we pray!" is a direct translation of the Hebrew word 'Hosanna.' This isn't just a casual request; it's an urgent plea from a people who understand their constant need for God's intervention. They know that apart from His saving power, they are vulnerable and lost. This plea acknowledges their utter dependence on God for deliverance, not just from physical enemies, but from all that threatens their well-being and their relationship with Him.
Think about it: every time we face a challenge, a temptation, or a moment of doubt, we can echo this ancient prayer. It's a recognition that true safety and security are found only in the Lord.
The Psalm doesn't stop at asking for rescue. It also asks for success! What does 'prosperity' mean in a biblical context, and how is it connected to God's saving power?
The second part of the verse, 'O LORD, we pray, give us success!', points to a desire for God's blessing and favor in their endeavors. This 'success' or 'prosperity' isn't necessarily about material wealth in the modern sense, but about God enabling them to fulfill His purposes. It’s about seeing His work advance, His kingdom grow, and His people thrive under His guidance.
This prayer is a recognition that all good outcomes come from God. Whether it's victory in battle, a bountiful harvest, or spiritual growth, it's all a gift from Him. It’s a prayer that God would actively work through them and bless their efforts for His glory. It’s the echo of God’s promise to bless those who follow Him and to see His plans prosper through them.
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 cry 'Save us, we pray!' and 'Give us success!' from Psalm 118 resonates through Israel's history, from celebrating the establishment of the monarchy under David to the hopeful rebuilding after exile and even to Jesus's own entry into Jerusalem.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David United the Tribes
After years of conflict, David united the twelve tribes of Israel, becoming their king. This period marked a significant step in establishing a unified kingdom and securing its borders.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Reign Begins
Upon David's death, Solomon ascended the throne. His reign was characterized by peace, prosperity, and significant building projects, including the First Temple in Jerusalem.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple, marking the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus conquered the Babylonian Empire, allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple.
This passage directly connects to Psalm 118:25, as the crowds cry 'Hosanna!' (which means 'Save now!') to Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, showing the fulfillment of this Messianic plea.
John 12:13This verse echoes the cry of Matthew 21:9, with people taking branches and shouting 'Hosanna!' in praise of Jesus, further illustrating the Messianic significance of the plea for salvation and blessing.
Nehemiah 1:11Nehemiah's prayer, 'O Lord, I beseech thee, let thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant... and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day,' uses very similar language and expresses a deep dependence on God's blessing for success in His work.
Jeremiah 31:7The prophet calls for Israel to 'Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob; shout for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, “O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel!”' This highlights the communal and national plea for divine salvation and favor.
Psalm 116:4This verse, 'Then I called on the name of the LORD, 'O LORD, I pray, save my life!', shows a personal and fervent cry for deliverance, mirroring the intense dependence on God's saving power expressed in Psalm 118:25.
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.
This isn't just a simple cry for help; the repetition of "O LORD, we pray" emphasizes a deep, constant dependence on God, not just for rescue, but for ongoing success and flourishing in His plans. It's a profound acknowledgment that every good thing we receive is a continuation of His favor, not a one-time miracle.
This psalm seems to be a celebration of a great victory or a coronation, with people calling out to God to save and prosper their leader. Following verses that express confidence in God's help and the triumph over enemies, this cry for salvation and success is a fervent plea for continued divine favor. It echoes a timeless yearning for God's intervention, a plea that would later be heard in the shouts welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem.
This psalm seems to be a celebration of a great victory or a coronation, with people calling out to God to save and prosper their leader. Following verses that express confidence in God's help and the triumph over enemies, this cry for salvation and success is a fervent plea for continued divine favor. It echoes a timeless yearning for God's intervention, a plea that would later be heard in the shouts welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem.
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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.
El · Hebrew Noun
The generic term for the divine Creator and Ruler, used to emphasize God’s power, majesty, and supreme authority over all existence.
or · Hebrew Noun
A symbol of divine presence, favor, revelation, life, and holiness. God’s light dispels darkness, guides the believer, and manifests His glory to humanity.
chag · Hebrew Noun
A religious ceremony or animal offering presented to God as a part of a holy celebration or covenantal worship. It emphasizes the necessity of atonement and the joy of coming into God's presence.
mizbeach · Hebrew Noun
The sacred place of sacrifice and intercession where heaven meets earth, representing the site of reconciliation between a holy God and sinful humanity through the shed blood of an offering.
c. 515 BC
Second Temple Dedicated
After years of difficult rebuilding, the Second Temple in Jerusalem was completed and dedicated, symbolizing the restoration of worship and national identity for the returning exiles.
AD 30
Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus entered Jerusalem to the cries of 'Hosanna!' from the crowds, a direct echo of Psalm 118:25. This event marked a pivotal moment in his final week.
"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 LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us.…" — This isn't just a simple cry for help; the repetition of "O LORD, we pray" emphasizes a deep, constant dependence on God, not just for rescue, but for ongoing success and flourishing in His plans. It…
