Our Daily Prayer

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-9

The passage under consideration today is a familiar one. We know the story of what is known as "Palm Sunday." The phrase itself is not used in the Biblical record but derived from the worshipers' actions as Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time during his earthly ministry. In today's mediation, we are going to focus in on the "shouting" of the people found in Matt. 21:9, "and the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest." There are a few items to note in this 'prayer' of the people. First, it is a prayer. The words used by the people are drawn from Ps. 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!
We bless you from the house of the Lord."

These words, used by the people of the Savior, are drawn from the Old Testament record, which states that it is a prayer -- a prayer of deliverance and salvation. In fact, the expression used by the people ("Hosanna") literally means, "Save, I [or we] pray" or "Save now." In so praying this way, the Hebrews were praying for God's help and deliverance. The second item to note is why they were praying in this manner. Their main concern was that the throne of David would be established now and in their day. As was often the case, they misunderstood the first advent of the Messiah. They were desirous of freedom from Rome and looking for the reestablishment of the Davidic Kingdom. Though they misunderstood, we shouldn't. We should pray for the coming of the King to establish his reign over all the earth. Calvin said, "the Spirit trained the ancient people [of the Old Testament] to pray daily for the reign of Christ." This account of the triumphal entry demonstrates that we too should pray for the reign of Christ, as Calvin added, "the same rule is laid down for us nowadays." (78).

McKim adds, "We should pray daily for the reign of Christ. This is to be such a passion for us that we should pray daily to God for Christ's reign to be enacted. Jesus gave us this way to say it in the Lord's Prayer: "Thy kingdom come." We pray for Christ's reign and Christ's people -- the church -- to express God's will and purposes for the earth and for the people on it." Calvin added, "this Kingdom is not set up by humans or sustained by their power but stands invincible by heavenly help." (78).

So, we pray the same for the same reason from a better understanding than the people of old prayed. We pray for God's will to be done on earth, and it is in heaven. When the Lord returns, all will come to pass, and he will rule and reign over all his creation forever.