hosanna

it's been a while :)

i finally learned a good definition of the word hosanna!
it's one of those troublesome "church words" that pops up in the bible and in sermons and in songs... and you just don't ever know exactly what it means without context clues...

apparently even in Jesus' time it had become an expression of praise and the true meaning was lost. so i think our confusion is definitely justified here... :) that's about the way it's used in songs right? it's just this vague sort of expression of praise...

but i was delighted to learn that it does in fact have deeper meaning!

it's a hebrew phrase made of two words
ישע = to save, deliver, give victory to
נא = an expression of earnest request or incitement, such as "please!", "i pray", or in a more desperate/demanding sense "now!"

matthew 21:9
"the crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Save now!..."

and he responded to that more powerfully than they could have imagined!
certainly beyond what they expected...

i feel so privileged to be able to shout hosanna and mean it.
and besides praying it for myself, i can pray it for the world around me!

let's be outwardly focused as we consider the sacrifice and victory of our Savior this year :)


I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity