Just Pondering
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Rick Branan |
Open the gates of righteousness for me;
I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the LORD’s gate;
the righteous will enter through it.
I will give thanks to you because you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This came from the Lord;
it is wondrous in our sight.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let’s rejoice and be glad in it.
Lord, save us!
Lord, please grant us success!
He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
Psalm 118:19-26 (CSBBible)
Jeannette Threlfall’s (b. Blackburn, Lancashire, England, 1821; d. Westminster, London, 1880) life was extremely difficult: she was orphaned at an early age, and two serious accidents caused her to be an invalid for life. But she bore her misfortune with grace and fortitude and maintained a ministry to many people who came in contact with her. Threlfall wrote devotional verse, which was published anonymously in various periodicals and later collected in Woodsorrel, or Leaves from a Retired Home (1856) and Sunshine and Shadow (1873), which included "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna."
Bert Polman
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Hosanna, loud hosanna
the little children sang;
through pillared court and temple
the lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them,
close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises,
the simplest and the best.
From Olivet they followed
mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm branch waving,
and chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of earth and heaven
rode on in lowly state,
nor scorned that little children
should on his bidding wait.
"Hosanna in the highest!"
That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer,
the Lord of heaven, our King.
O may we ever praise him
with heart and life and voice,
and in his blissful presence
eternally rejoice.
Written by Jennette Threlfall
Some background is needed for our scripture passage. Psalm 118 is the culmination of the Egyptian Hallel, possibly written by Moses. These six psalms are used during Passover, Festival of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Festival of Tents. These three festivals were required attendance for Jewish males. We see Jesus attending Passover and Tents during His earthly ministry, He would have attended Weeks but is not mentioned. The texts of the psalms have similarities to passages from Exodus 12-14 (MacArthur). Jesus and the disciples would have sung Psalm 118 as they finished the Passover meal.
Psalm 118 is full of Messianic implications. We see reference to the “gates only the righteous may enter” in Psalm 24, “Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord of Armies, he is the King of glory.” The rejected cornerstone is quoted in Luke (Chapter 20, Jesus refers to Himself), Acts, and 1 Peter. Lastly, Jesus quotes, “He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed” as He mourns over Jerusalem. Of course, this passage is sung as Christ triumphantly enters Jerusalem.
As we begin Holy Week, ponder what Christ has done for you. In her hymn, Jennette Threlfall writes, “Hosanna in the highest!" That ancient song we sing, for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven, our King.” Let’s sing “Hosannas” this week because Christ’s redemptive work on the cross brings salvation to those that repent and believe. We who believe are also reconciled to God eternally. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.”
Just pondering . . . Bro. Rick