What Does Psalm 118:25-26 Mean?
The meaning of Psalm 118:25-26 is a heartfelt cry for help and a joyful welcome to the one God sends. These verses express deep dependence on God’s salvation and celebrate His chosen leader who comes with divine authority, as seen in the people’s shout: 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'
Psalm 118:25-26
Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Key Facts
Book
Author
Anonymous (traditionally attributed to David)
Genre
Wisdom
Date
Estimated 5th - 4th century BC
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- Cry out to God; He hears our pleas for help.
- Welcome Jesus, the One who comes in God’s name.
- God turns distress into triumph through His chosen King.
Context of Psalm 118:25-26
Psalm 118 is a joyful hymn of thanksgiving often used in worship processions, where the people of God celebrate His enduring love and mighty acts of deliverance.
The psalm begins and ends with the refrain 'His steadfast love endures forever,' framing the entire song with God’s faithful care. By verses 25 - 26, the tone shifts slightly: the speaker, likely a king or priest leading the people, cries out 'Save us, we pray, O Lord!' - a plea for help in a moment of need, even as they stand on the edge of victory. This prayer flows directly into the joyful declaration 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' - a public welcome to someone coming with God’s authority, echoing how crowds later greeted Jesus in Matthew 21:9.
This moment captures both human need and divine response, pointing forward to Jesus’ triumphal entry and reminding us that God’s salvation often arrives in the midst of real struggle.
Meaning and Language of Psalm 118:25-26
Building on the context of public worship and divine deliverance, these verses use poetic repetition and royal language to express both urgent need and joyful hope in God's promised leader.
The two lines of verse 25 - 'Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!' - show a common Hebrew poetic pattern called synonymous parallelism, where the second line echoes and strengthens the first, deepening the sense of dependence on God’s help.
This cry for salvation was more than personal rescue; it reflected a public moment when the community welcomed a figure who came in the name of the Lord. The phrase 'Blessed is he who comes' (Hebrew: *baruch haba*) carried royal weight, often used for kings entering the city with God’s authority. Later, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds shouted this very line (Matthew 21:9), recognizing Him as the long-awaited one through whom God’s salvation would come.
Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!
Even today, this passage reminds us that we can bring our honest cries for help to God while also staying ready to welcome the One He sends - Jesus, our Savior and King. The same God who answered the psalmist’s plea is still at work, turning moments of distress into occasions for praise and pointing us to the One who comes with God’s power and peace.
Practical Message of Psalm 118:25-26
This prayer for salvation and welcome for God’s chosen leader isn’t just ancient poetry - it’s a pattern for how we live with hope today.
We cry out to God in our need because He is trustworthy and loving, as the psalmist did, and we remember that Jesus is the One who truly comes in the Lord’s name - He is our salvation and King.
When we face struggles, we don’t face them alone. We call on the Lord and welcome Jesus, the rejected stone who became the cornerstone, knowing God is with us and working for our good.
Fulfillment in the Triumphal Entry
This ancient cry of hope and royal welcome finds its fullest meaning when the crowds shout it to Jesus as He enters Jerusalem, fulfilling the spirit of Psalm 118:25-26 in real time.
In Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9-10, and John 12:13, the people wave palm branches and cry, 'Hosanna! Save us now! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' - directly quoting Psalm 118 and declaring Jesus to be the long-awaited deliverer coming with God’s authority.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
When we recognize Jesus as the One who comes in the Lord’s name, our everyday response becomes one of active trust - like pausing to pray for help instead of panicking, or choosing kindness when wronged, knowing God’s kingdom is being built through small, faithful acts.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I remember a time when I felt completely overwhelmed - work was falling apart, my relationships were strained, and I kept trying to fix everything on my own. I felt guilty for not having enough 'faith,' but Psalm 118:25-26 reminded me that crying out 'Save us, O Lord!' isn't a sign of weak faith - it's the heart of real faith. Just like the people shouting for help and then welcoming the one who comes in God’s name, I learned to stop pretending I had it all together and instead call on God honestly. That shift - from self-reliance to God-reliance - changed how I face every challenge. Now, when stress hits, my first response isn’t panic; it’s a quiet prayer: 'Lord, save me. Help me now.' And in that moment, I remember Jesus, the One who truly comes in the Lord’s name, and peace follows.
Personal Reflection
- When was the last time I honestly cried out to God for help instead of trying to handle things alone?
- In what area of my life am I struggling to welcome Jesus as the true leader - the One who comes in the Lord’s name?
- How can I show trust in God’s salvation today, even if I don’t yet see the full victory?
A Challenge For You
This week, turn one of your worries into a 'Hosanna' moment - pause, pray 'Lord, save me' in that situation, and then thank Jesus for being the One who comes in God’s name to help you. Also, say Psalm 118:25-26 out loud each morning as a declaration of trust, rather than merely a prayer for rescue.
A Prayer of Response
Lord, I admit I need You. Save me in my moments of stress, fear, and failure. Thank You for sending Jesus, the One who comes in Your name, to be my Savior and King. Help me welcome Him daily, not just in worship, but in every decision. May my life reflect the joy of Your salvation. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Psalm 118:22-24
Sets the stage with the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone and declares 'This is the day the Lord has made,' leading into the plea for salvation.
Psalm 118:27-29
Continues the worship procession, affirming God’s light and concluding with thanksgiving, completing the liturgical moment begun in verse 25.
Connections Across Scripture
Zechariah 9:9
Prophesies the coming of a humble king on a donkey, directly fulfilled when Jesus enters Jerusalem as the one 'who comes in the name of the Lord.'
Luke 19:38
Echoes Psalm 118:26 as Jesus enters Jerusalem, with disciples praising Him as the blessed king who brings peace and salvation.
Hebrews 13:15
Calls believers to offer praise as a sacrifice, reflecting the thanksgiving and worship seen in the psalm’s festal context.