Daily Devotions
Psalm 22:19,21 “But You, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.”
For centuries this has been known as “Palm Sunday” (in Latin, Palmarum). Praise the Lord!” is the “hosanna” cry this day.
Hosanna is not a word used all that often in everyday conversation! Today you saw palm branches waving in joy, recalling the palm branches spread on the ground so that the “one who comes in the name of the Lord” would not be walking on mere dirt. Palm Sunday is a day to rejoice and to remember why the Lord came in the first place. He came to take the punishment we deserved because of our sins.
The psalm for today is a cry for God to “be not far off.” Not far off in our distance is the cross. See, the Lord is not far off-you can almost “see” Him on that lonely hill called Calvary. The “strength” of God-the Son of God-gave it all up for us to save us from our sins. Our cries of praise-Hosanna!-take on special meaning when we see that lonely hill in the distance. As you look to that hill, praise the Lord because He came to make the journey to that cross for you.
Application: Read through Mark’s Passion History of Jesus Christ. (Mark, chapters 14-15).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, do not be far from me. Answer my prayer. Forgive me all my sin. Restore to me the joy that has been the theme of each Sunday in Lent. In Jesus’ name. Amen.