Psalm 79:9

Psalm 79:9

For the glory of Your name

At last, a cry of penitence, “Help us. Deliver us. Forgive our sins.” The writer has set out the dilemma that the people are in. He has described the events that have led to the destruction of their land and the ignominious journey of captivity to Babylon. He has pleaded for God to rain down destruction on Israel’s enemies. Now, he cries for his people and asks that God forgives them. Are these the words that the Lord had been waiting to hear? 

Notice that this is not a selfish plea, twice the writer pleads the glory of God’s name. What does that mean? Well, Israel were God’s chosen people. The land was His land of promise. The relationship that He had with the Jews was founded upon Covenant promises made to men like Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David. If the people were abandoned by Him forever and were never to be restored, then the name of the Lord God would be vilified amongst the nations and amongst His people. It’s ironic is it not, that it was the Jews rejection of Him that led to this impasse in the first place? A bit cheeky then to now plead the glory of His name, the name they had forsaken! 

This series of events highlights the mercy and grace of God. He heard the pleas, and he eventually restored the people. Later they would go on to reject His Son and suffer the consequences for 2,000 years but God has still not forgotten them and has restored them and their land. He will always honour His covenant promises. Isn’t He amazing? This is our God too. He may judge our waywardness. He may discipline us for our unbelief and our sinfulness but, if we are His children, He will not abandon us forever. It is for the glory of His name that Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” He then writes, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35,38-39.

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