One of the most beautiful words in all of scripture can also be one of the most perplexing--at least for many of us: "hosanna." What does it mean?
Coming from Psalm 118:25, it literally means something like, "Save, we pray." It was one of several songs (including Psalms 113-118) that would be used by ancient Jews to praise God while waving palm or willow branches during the most joyous of the yearly Jewish feasts, the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles. While the feast was intended to memorialize the period of wandering, and in which all Jews would make and live in small, outdoor booths made of leafy branches or palm leaves, Lev 23:42,43, it was also a jubilant harvest festival, Ex 23:16. Vine says that the last day of the festival was called "the great Hosanna," and the boughs they waved, "hosannas." God set that time apart for them so that they would remember their utter dependence upon Him; not just for the physical, but the spiritual: to know "...that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD," Deut 8:3b (cf v2-5).
The Psalm itself reads, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O LORD, do save, we beseech You [Hosanna!]; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; we have blessed you from the house of the LORD," Psa 118:22-26.
Jesus quotes it as a Psalm that pointed to the Messiah, Mt 21:42; so is it any wonder that when he came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey (fulfilling Zech 9:9), that "Those who went in front and those who followed were [quoting this psalm,] shouting: 'Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest,'" Mk 11:9,10! Though not fully understood by those welcoming him at the time, their salvation had come--not in a physical king or kingdom, but through Jesus' sacrifice in just a few days!
Of this salvation, songwriter Ruben Morgan reflected,
Let the weak say, "I am strong"; let the poor say, "I am rich";
let the blind say, "I can see": it's what the Lord has done in me. (Mt 11:5) In the river I will wade; there my sins are washed away
by the heaven's mercy stream of the Savior's love for me.
(Acts 22:16; Heb 10:19-22) I will rise from waters deep to the saving arms of God;
I will sing salvation's songs--Jesus Christ has set me free.
(Rom 6:2,3,22,23) Hosanna, Hosanna to the Lamb that was slain;
Hosanna, Hosanna: Jesus died and rose again!
In a sense, the cry, "Hosanna!" is both a plea for salvation, and wholehearted praise because that salvation has been granted. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are able to have our sins washed away through obedient faith; we are freed from slavery to unrighteousness! And because of his resurrection, we can have confidence that, having been saved, we will also be raised to eternal life in His presence! Indeed--"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing," Rev 5:12!
