Help us, God our Savior
Psalms 79:8-9 - Jesus provided the final atonement for sin through His sacrifice on the cross.
AI rendering of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC, via ChatGPT
“Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.”
Psalms 79:8-9 NIV
Surprisingly, today’s Psalms are not written by King David. Psalm 79 is noted as being a “Psalm of Asaph”, a grandson of the Prophet Samuel who was alive during the reigns of both King David and his son King Solomon, and was assigned by David to worship God in music and song. However, from the presumed date of its writing after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian armies in 586 BC, it is widely accepted by Biblical scholars that it was written by a descendant of Asaph.
What’s the context of today’s verses? Psalm 79 describes Jerusalem’s destruction and the defilement of the temple. By the time we get to verses 8 and 9, Asaph’s psalm becomes a plea to God for rescue of His chosen people.
Verse 8 reflect’s Asaph’s awareness of the sin of God’s people and a fervent desire for God to forgive His people. The concept of sin was seen in the Old Testament as having both personal and community components; individuals and society were both responsible for sin. The Israelites knew that their suffering was a result of disobeying God’s covenant and that forgiveness would come from God if they confessed their sins and repented, as outlined in Leviticus 26:40-42.
From a theological viewpoint, Asaph’s plea highlights the need for repentance (atonement) and the hope of God’s grace. That grace is fully realized in New Testament times through Jesus, who offers forgiveness of sins to believers (see Ephesians 1:7).
Asaph asks for God’s mercy to come quickly, showing God as both compassionate and loving. The people of Israel saw the perfect example of compassion in a mother’s love for her child (Isaiah 49:15, see image above), and knew that God would offer the nation the same deep and nurturing care. In asking God to help His people quickly, Asaph underscored the desperation of Israel at a time when their spiritual and political capital Jerusalem lay in ruins.
The psalmist pleads to God: “for we are in desperate need.” Physically, the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon resulted in deep loss and humiliation to the Israelites. Spiritually, the Israelites felt broken by the recognition of their own sinfulness and need for God. Fortunately, that feeling of desperation would gain God’s attention as He offers comfort to those who are humble and contrite (see Isaiah 57:15).
Moving on to verse 9, Asaph appeals to God for assistance in full recognition of Him as the Savior of His people. This type of appeal recurs throughout Psalms, with the faithful turning to God in times of need.
The Israelites aren’t just asking for personal help or even help for the nation — they are asking for assistance “for the glory of your name”. In the culture of the time, a name was representative of a person’s character and reputation. Here, Asaph implies that God’s help in this time of need would demonstrate His power and His faithfulness to His people and raise up His reputation among the nations.
The plea is for deliverance from the current predicament of the Israelites, along with a request for forgiveness of sins. It’s a plea that shows that sin separates God and humanity, and reconciliation can only happen through divine intervention. In the days of the Israelites, atonement required a complex system of sacrifices and ceremonies (as described in Leviticus 16). Jesus provided the final atonement for sin through His sacrifice on the cross.
The verse ends by repeating the concern for God’s name (“for your name’s sake”). This emphasis not only highlights the importance of God’s faithfulness to humanity through His covenants, but assures believers that He will respond in such a way as to bring only glory to His name.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in humility, realizing the weight of our sins and those of the generations that came before us. We are in desperate need of Your mercy and grace, and pray that You forgive our sins for the glory of Your name. May our lives reflect Your infinite mercy and unfailing love, becoming light in a world overshadowed by darkness. Renew our hearts and restore our nation, so that all may honor and glorify Your holy name. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our redeemer. AMEN.