Psalm 79:9
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.
Help us, O God of our salvation,

Israel’s only hope was the Lord, who had delivered His people throughout their history. Their distress was tied to their sin, yet they appealed to the God who had bound Himself to them in covenant mercy.

1Ch 16:35 Then cry out: ‘Save us, O God of our salvation;……
Psa 85:4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away…
Psa 65:5 With awesome deeds of righteousness You answer us, O God…

for the glory of Your name;

The request looked beyond relief from suffering. If God rescued His people, the nations would see that He alone is faithful, powerful, and holy.

1Ch 16:29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;…
Psa 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory…
Jhn 12:28 “Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven:……

deliver us and atone for our sins,

The devastation described in the psalm was understood as the consequence of national sin. Deliverance required God’s forgiveness and the removal of guilt, which Israel could not accomplish on its own.

Lev 16:30 because on this day atonement will be made…
Exo 32:30 The next day Moses said to the people…
Psa 130:8 And He will redeem Israel from all iniquity.

for the sake of Your name.

God’s honor was the basis of the appeal. His rescue of His repentant people would uphold the reputation of the Lord who judges sin yet remains faithful to His covenant.

Psa 106:8 Yet He saved them for the sake of His name,…
1Sa 12:22 Indeed, for the sake of His great name…
Ezk 36:22-23 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Asaph
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 79, Asaph was a prominent Levite singer and seer in David's court, known for his role in temple worship.

2. Israel
The nation of Israel is the primary subject of this psalm, experiencing devastation and seeking God's intervention.

3. God
Referred to as the "God of our salvation," highlighting His role as the deliverer and redeemer of Israel.

4. Jerusalem
The city is implied as the setting, having faced destruction and desecration, prompting the plea for divine help.

5. Enemies of Israel
The foreign nations that have invaded and desecrated the holy land, causing suffering and prompting the cry for deliverance.
Teaching Points
The Importance of God's Name
God's name represents His character and reputation. Our prayers should align with His glory and purposes, seeking His intervention not just for personal relief but for His name's sake.

Dependence on Divine Salvation
Recognize that true deliverance and atonement come from God alone. Our efforts are insufficient without His saving grace.

Confession and Repentance
Acknowledge the need for atonement and forgiveness. Regular confession and seeking God's mercy are vital aspects of a believer's life.

Intercessory Prayer
Like Asaph, we should intercede for others, asking God to deliver and forgive, not only for their benefit but to uphold His glory.

God's Faithfulness to His Covenant
Trust in God's faithfulness to His promises. He acts in accordance with His covenant, ensuring His name is honored among the nations.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the plea for God to act "for the glory of Your name" challenge our motivations in prayer?

2. In what ways can we see God's deliverance and atonement in our own lives, and how should this impact our daily walk with Him?

3. How does understanding the historical context of Israel's plight enhance our appreciation of God's faithfulness and mercy?

4. What are some practical ways we can intercede for others, following the example of Asaph's prayer in this psalm?

5. How can we ensure that our actions and words reflect the holiness and glory of God's name in our communities?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 32
The plea for God to act for the sake of His name echoes Moses' intercession for Israel after the golden calf incident, where he appeals to God's reputation among the nations.

Daniel 9
Daniel's prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem similarly appeals to God's mercy and the sanctity of His name.

Ezekiel 36
God promises to act for the sake of His holy name, emphasizing His commitment to His covenant and reputation.
A Nation's Prayer in Time of DistressBp. Gardiner.Psalm 79:9
Man's Need of Cleansing from Sin Met in ChristPsalm 79:9
Purging Away SinsR. Tuck Psalm 79:9
Sins Forgiven for Jesu's SakePsalm 79:9
The Highest Divine Title, and the Highest Human PrivilegeHomilistPsalm 79:9
An Imprecatory PsalmS. Conway Psalm 79:1-13
Good Men God's InheritanceHomilistPsalm 79:1-13
Prayer for Deliverance from SufferingC. Short Psalm 79:1-13
The Inhumanity of Man and the Mixture of Good and EvilHomilistPsalm 79:1-13
People
Asaph, Jacob, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Cover, Danger, Deliver, Forgive, Forgiveness, Glory, Honour, Name's, O, Purge, Sake, Salvation, Savior, Sins
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 79:9

     1045   God, glory of
     1436   reality
     8666   praise, manner and methods

Psalm 79:8-9

     6648   expiation
     8610   prayer, asking God

Library
The Attack on the Scriptures
[Illustration: (drop cap B) A Greek Warrior] But troubled times came again to Jerusalem. The great empires of Babylon and Assyria had passed away for ever, exactly as the prophets of Israel had foretold; but new powers had arisen in the world, and the great nations fought together so constantly that all the smaller countries, and with them the Kingdom of Judah, changed hands very often. At last Alexander the Great managed to make himself master of all the countries of the then-known world. Alexander
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

How they are to be Admonished who Lament Sins of Deed, and those who Lament Only Sins of Thought.
(Admonition 30.) Differently to be admonished are those who deplore sins of deed, and those who deplore sins of thought. For those who deplore sins of deed are to be admonished that perfected lamentations should wash out consummated evils, lest they be bound by a greater debt of perpetrated deed than they pay in tears of satisfaction for it. For it is written, He hath given us drink in tears by measure (Ps. lxxix. 6): which means that each person's soul should in its penitence drink the tears
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire Until the Collapse of the Western Empire and the First Schism Between the East and the West, or Until About A. D. 500
In the second period of the history of the Church under the Christian Empire, the Church, although existing in two divisions of the Empire and experiencing very different political fortunes, may still be regarded as forming a whole. The theological controversies distracting the Church, although different in the two halves of the Graeco-Roman world, were felt to some extent in both divisions of the Empire and not merely in the one in which they were principally fought out; and in the condemnation
Joseph Cullen Ayer Jr., Ph.D.—A Source Book for Ancient Church History

The Formation of the Old Testament Canon
[Sidenote: Israel's literature at the beginning of the fourth century before Christ] Could we have studied the scriptures of the Israelitish race about 400 B.C., we should have classified them under four great divisions: (1) The prophetic writings, represented by the combined early Judean, Ephraimite, and late prophetic or Deuteronomic narratives, and their continuation in Samuel and Kings, together with the earlier and exilic prophecies; (2) the legal, represented by the majority of the Old Testament
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

A Summary of the Christian Life. Of Self-Denial.
The divisions of the chapter are,--I. The rule which permits us not to go astray in the study of righteousness, requires two things, viz., that man, abandoning his own will, devote himself entirely to the service of God; whence it follows, that we must seek not our own things, but the things of God, sec. 1, 2. II. A description of this renovation or Christian life taken from the Epistle to Titus, and accurately explained under certain special heads, sec. 3 to end. 1. ALTHOUGH the Law of God contains
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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