1911801

And when they drew near unto Jerusalem... then sent Jesus two of his disciples... Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh unto you, meek, sitting upon a donkey... And a very great multitude spread forth their garments in the way, and others cut down branches from the trees... And the multitudes... cried, saying, Hosanna, son of David, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. And when he was coming to Jerusalem, the city was moved, saying, Who is this? (Matthew 21)

The cry of Palm Sunday was a prayer—"Save now"—and only one Person could answer it.

The Hillel Psalms and Palm Sunday

There were seven feasts the children of Israel of old would celebrate, the feasts of the Lord. At three of them—Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and Tabernacles—they were called to come up to Jerusalem. You always went up to Jerusalem, even if you lived in a higher region, for you were ascending to the house of the Lord.

As they ascended, they would begin in Psalm 113 and recite the Psalms of Hillel, the Psalms of Praise, from Psalm 113 through Psalm 118. This is the praise we read in Matthew 21: "Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." That comes from the near end of Psalm 118, the last of the Hillel Psalms. It was sung by the pilgrims as they came down the Mount of Olives into the city—ordained of God that on that day 2,000 years ago, as Jesus rode the donkey, they would be singing Hosanna, which literally means "Save now, we pray."

"This Is My Psalm"

Because today is Palm Sunday, I want to spend our time in Psalm 118. Martin Luther, the great reformer, said of it: "This is my psalm, my chosen psalm. I love them all... but this psalm is nearest my heart, and I have peculiar right to call it mine. It has saved me from many pressing dangers, from which no emperor, nor king, nor sage, nor saint could ever have saved me. It is my friend, dearer to me than all the honors and power of the earth."

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, because his mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say that his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Aaron say that his mercy endures forever. Let them that fear the Lord say... his mercy endures forever. (Psalm 118:1–4)

The psalmist shouts a call to praise. It is as if he cannot alone sufficiently express his thankfulness, so he calls all in attendance to worship with him. Charles Spurgeon said, "Goodness is his essence and nature, and therefore he is always to be praised... If others are good in measure, he is good beyond measure... We must never tolerate an instant's unbelief as to the goodness of the Lord."

His Mercy Endures Forever

His wonderful works are displayed in that next phrase: "His mercy endures forever." In Exodus 34, Moses desired to see God. The Lord hid him in the cleft of the rock and passed by, declaring His name—His nature. The very first word He used was merciful: "The Lord, the Lord God merciful... and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth."

There are innumerable attributes of God. He is just, righteous, and holy. The Scriptures say His righteousness, His praise, His truth, His judgments, His word, and His name all endure forever. But more than any other thing, the Scriptures say 41 times that God's mercy endures forever. While His justice and His righteous judgments endure forever, are you not thankful today that His mercy endures more than any other thing? Because we are so in need of His mercy.

When We Call, He Answers

I called upon the Lord in my distress, and the Lord answered me and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side. I will not fear what can man do unto me. (Psalm 118:5–6)

God's goodness is evidenced in this: when we call, He answers. Through Jeremiah He said, "Call to me and I'll answer you and I'll show you great and mighty things that you do not know." Are we fully taking advantage of that promise? Many call upon the Lord only in distress, even some who do not know Him. But those who fear the Lord call out in every season.

Notice He "set me in a large place." Underline that. God does not merely answer us with words—though for our comfort that might be enough. He actively works in our lives at our request. David called to the Lord and the Lord saved him (Psalm 18, 55, 86). Elijah, alone against 400-plus prophets of Baal, called upon the Lord and God brought fire while Baal stayed silent. Have you experienced the Lord working in your life, not just the encouraging word? If not, perhaps it's an indication that you have not called upon Him.

Better to Trust in the Lord

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. (Psalm 118:8–9)

There are many wells from which men draw, but every well besides the Lord is found to be empty, dry, and bitter—remember the woman at the well in John 4. Notice the word in. The Bible doesn't merely say "trust the Lord"; we are exhorted to trust in the Lord, without a divided heart. James says the one who wavers is unstable. Solomon says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding."

John Calvin said, "All make this acknowledgement, and yet there is scarcely one among a hundred who is fully persuaded that God alone can afford him sufficient help." Every believer here agrees the Lord is the one to whom we put our trust—yet we are tempted. When we have a physical infirmity, we'll sooner call the doctor than call out to the Lord. When there's a financial problem, we run to friends, family, or a credit card. We fail to recognize He is sufficiently available for us.

Those who count such things report these two verses, Psalm 118:8–9, are the center verses of the Bible. That position alone should give them prominence. It is likely King David himself wrote them—and how refreshing it would be to hear a politician give this honest declaration. If your confidence is in the political structure of this world, it will fail. Kingdoms fall. But the kingdom of the Lord endures forever: "Of the increase of his government, there shall be no end."

Surrounded, Yet Saved in His Name

All nations compass me about, but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them... They compassed me about like bees... Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall, but the Lord helped me. (Psalm 118:10–13)

Hemmed in, in times such as these we truly see the salvation of the Lord. It is not entirely a bad thing to find yourself cornered, for it is there we stand and see His salvation. In the name of the Lord the psalmist found victory. As Psalm 20 says, some trust in chariots and horses, but we remember the name of the Lord our God.

One of my 31,000 favorite verses is Isaiah 26:3: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace"—in the Hebrew, shalom, shalom, peace, peace, repeated for emphasis. Who is kept there? "He whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee." And the logical application follows in verse 4: "Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Solomon adds, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe."

My Strength, My Song, My Salvation

The Lord is my strength and song and has become my salvation. (Psalm 118:14)

Isaiah echoed these very words in chapter 12: "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid... Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation." An unending source our Lord is.

David himself was likely recalling the song of Israel in Exodus 15: "The Lord is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation." Why were they singing? Because in Exodus 14 God brought them through the Red Sea on dry ground and destroyed their enemies. The awesome thing about that declaration is that it gives God all the glory and ascribes nothing to ourselves. It was the Lord who strengthened, who helped, who gave victory. We have nothing in which to boast, for He won our salvation.

The Right Hand of the Lord

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted... I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. (Psalm 118:15–18)

Three times the psalmist speaks of "the right hand of the Lord." In the New Testament, Jesus is seen seated at the right hand of God the Father—in Acts 2, standing in Acts 7 as Stephen is martyred, and throughout Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, Hebrews, and 1 Peter. Why is He exalted? Philippians 2 answers: though He was equal with God, He made Himself of no reputation, humbled Himself to the death of the cross, "wherefore God has also highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name."

The psalmist adds, "The Lord has chastened me sore, but he has not given me over to death." Hebrews 12 says whom the Lord loves, He chastens. Every believer will experience the chastening of the Lord; if you never do, it's an indication you are not truly a son. But we may be chastened as He sanctifies us, yet we will never endure His wrath—for "God has not appointed us to wrath" (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

The Gate of Righteousness

Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go in unto them, and I will praise the Lord. (Psalm 118:19–20)

The pilgrims would recite this exact portion as they entered the gates of Jerusalem, because their purpose was to praise the Lord. But Jesus is the one who first opened the gates of righteousness for us through His death, burial, and resurrection. In John 10 He said, "I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." And in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by me."

People call that narrow and arrogant. But it is simply a declaration of fact. He is the only way. Some try to climb over the wall, but Jesus said those are thieves and liars. Spurgeon said, "The Lord has passed that way and not only set the gate wide open but secured an entrance for all those who are made righteous in His righteousness."

I Will Praise Thee

I will praise thee, for thou hast heard me and art become my salvation. (Psalm 118:21)

The worshiper must decide to praise the Lord. There are days when our flesh wakes up first and we don't feel like praising God—we're tired, unwell, overwhelmed, or facing someone we'd rather avoid. That's why Hebrews 13:15 calls it a sacrifice of praise. Sometimes on the way to church a thought says, "I'll skip the worship and the greeting; let's just come for the message." Severe trials, grief, and the valley of depression make worship difficult, and the enemy loves to bring a believer to despair. Yet David said, "Yet I shall praise Him."

Why praise? "For thou hast heard me." And He has "become my salvation." Psalm 68:20 declares that God is salvation—but has He become your salvation? The work Christ did 2,000 years ago is a sufficient atonement for all mankind, but it is only effective in those who secure it by faith. Has He become your salvation?

The Stone the Builders Rejected

The stone which the builders rejected has become the headstone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:22–23)

There is a Jewish tradition that during the building of Solomon's temple—where no sound of hammer was allowed on the mount—a stone was brought from the quarry that seemed out of order. The builders set it aside, and over time, finding it in the way, pushed it down into the Kidron Valley. When the time came to set the cornerstone, they couldn't find it. Word came back from the quarry: "We already sent it." After searching, they found the stone the builders had rejected was the cornerstone. The tradition's origin is unknown, but if true, what a foreshadowing of Jesus, the Rock of our salvation.

Just after His triumphal entry, Jesus referenced this very passage (Matthew 21:42)—a prophetic declaration that the Messiah would be rejected by the builders. Peter, preaching in Acts 4, identified the people of Jerusalem as the builders and Jesus as the stone they rejected. Paul referenced it in Ephesians 2; Peter again in 1 Peter 2: "Unto you which believe, he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient... a stumbling stone."

To some, Jesus is a rock of offense. Paul wrote in Romans 9 that those who sought righteousness by works "stumbled at the stumbling stone." But their rejection does not diminish that He is the only way. As Paul told Corinth, "Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Any other foundation is shifting sand, and when the storm of God's wrath comes, that structure is wiped away. It would be wise, therefore, to build upon the Rock.

This Is the Day the Lord Has Made

This is the day which the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord... Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. (Psalm 118:24–26)

This is the portion sung as Jesus descended the Mount of Olives on the donkey, while people cast palm branches and even their clothes before Him, crying "Hosanna—save now, we pray." There is only one who can answer that prayer: the Rock of Ages.

Every day is a day the Lord has made and worthy of rejoicing. But here the psalmist speaks specifically of the day the Messiah entered Jerusalem. I once stopped in the middle of singing "This is the day that the Lord has made" to explain that it speaks of Palm Sunday. Afterward a long-time believer told me, "I always had a hard time with that song, because I'd come to church having had a bad day and didn't want to sing 'this is a good day.' But now I understand." This is the day the Lord has made—the day of our salvation.

Hosanna and Tears

When Jesus came to Jerusalem on the day we celebrate as Palm Sunday, even as the people cried "Save now," He wept over the city. In Luke 19:41 He said, "If you had known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace—but now they are hid from thine eyes." Amid all the jubilation and the cries of "Hosanna," Jesus wept, because He knew the very same crowd within five days would be crying, "Crucify Him." Public opinion changes quickly. These same people would be the builders who rejected Him.

And yet it was a triumphal entry—because the following Sunday He would rise from the dead as the conquering King, conquering death, which we'll consider next week.

Thou Art My God

God is the Lord, which hath showed us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee... O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever. (Psalm 118:27–29)

Alfred Edersheim tells us these words would be recited as the Passover lamb was being killed—and it is believed that at that very moment, as the lamb was sacrificed, Jesus was being bound to the cross. "Thou art my God; I will praise thee."

"God is the Lord"—it is a declarative fact. Though atheists and foolish scientists declare there is no God ("the fool has said in his heart, there is no God"), all creation resounds that God is. But is He your God? Your lack of faith will not diminish the fact—but has He become your God? Do you praise Him? Do you exalt Him?

If you have received and exalted Him today, then give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever. But if you have rejected Him, the Scriptures say that stone will fall upon the rejecter and grind him to powder. Receive the gracious and merciful gift found only in Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life, the gate by which man receives salvation, by grace through faith. This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Closing Prayer

Father, You are to be praised, honored, and worshiped, for You have made the way open to us. You call us to enter into Your gates with thanksgiving and into Your courts with praise, to bless Your name. We come before You today remembering that You came—and You came for a purpose, and the purpose was the cross. Jesus, You did not shy away from Jerusalem, but set Your face like flint toward it and would not be detoured from what was to take place there. Though mere men would have run the other way like Jonah, You went to the cross, choosing to suffer. Though in Your flesh in Gethsemane You cried, "Let this cup pass from me," You still submitted Yourself so that we could have fellowship with You. We thank You that You who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might receive Your righteousness. Lord, we praise You today. In Jesus' name, amen.