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Psalm 79:9
Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.
7for they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.
8Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.
9Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.
10Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes, that vengeance for your servants’ blood is being poured out.
11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.
Notice
The repeated appeal to God’s name anchors a desperate people’s plea for rescue and forgiveness in his glory, even as their homeland lies in ruins.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What would it mean to ask for help with God’s name and glory in view?
Write on thisWhat do you notice about a devastated people asking for rescue and forgiveness in the same prayer?
Write on thisWho would you include in the word “us” when praying this plea today?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 23:3He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.God’s name grounds both the plea for rescue and forgiveness here and the assurance of righteous guidance in Psalm 23.
Psalm 25:5Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. I wait for you all day long.Both prayers address God as the source of salvation and ask for his help, whether through deliverance or guidance in truth.
Jeremiah 14:7Though our iniquities testify against us, work for your name’s sake, LORD; for our rebellions are many. We have sinned against you.Both prayers acknowledge the people’s sins and appeal to God to act for his name’s sake.
Psalm 25:11For your name’s sake, LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.Both prayers ask God to pardon sin for his name’s sake, one speaking for a people and one for a person.
2 Chronicles 14:11Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, LORD our God; for …Asa and the people in Psalm 79 cry to God for help, linking their plea to his name.
Jeremiah 14:21Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake. Do not disgrace the throne of your glory. Remember, and don’t break your covenant with us.Both communal pleas appeal to God’s name and glory as reasons for him to help his people.
Isaiah 48:9For my name’s sake, I will defer my anger, and for my praise, I hold it back for you so that I don’t cut you off.Psalm 79 appeals for mercy for God’s name’s sake; Isaiah describes God restraining his anger for that same reason.
Ezekiel 20:14But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.Psalm 79 asks for deliverance for God’s name’s sake; Ezekiel recounts God acting to keep his name from being profaned.
Psalm 31:3For you are my rock and my fortress, therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.Both prayers appeal to God’s name as the reason for help, asking for deliverance here and guidance in Psalm 31.
Ezekiel 20:9But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them …Both connect rescue with God’s name: Psalm 79 requests it, while Ezekiel recalls God bringing his people out of Egypt.
Daniel 9:19Lord, hear. Lord, forgive. Lord, listen and do. Don’t defer, for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”Both prayers ask God to forgive and act for his own sake, tying the people’s plea to his name.
Isaiah 43:25I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.Psalm 79 asks God to forgive for his name’s sake; Isaiah declares that God blots out transgressions for his own sake.
Where this verse fits
Guilt and confession. injustice and anger. wanting a steady prayer habit.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Desperate need and confessed sin both belong in this prayer. The people still address God as the God of their salvation amid the wreckage.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).