Praise At The Triumphal Entry

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!

Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Praise God in highest heaven!”

Matthew 21:8-9

The Jews, who gathered for the annual Passover celebration, knew what it meant to praise their Savior. Every year, they assembled at the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the God who had miraculously delivered their ancestors from slavery in Egypt. During the Passover feast, the people prayed and sang Psalms 113–118, which are hymns of praise to God, their Deliverer. So it was natural for the crowd of Passover pilgrims to greet Jesus with the words above, which are from Psalm 118:26. Why wouldn’t they enthusiastically welcome Jesus—who had obviously come in God’s name—to their grand celebration?

Let your prayer time be a celebration of God and his Son, Jesus. Today, use the words of the people of Israel to celebrate Jesus.

• Dear Lord, I praise you for sending the Son of David . . .