God of our salvation, help us — for the glory of Your name. Deliver us and atone for our sins, because of Your name. Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever; we will declare Your praise to generation after generation.
Psalms 79:9, 13
The city of Jerusalem had been left in ruins. Its inhabitants had either been carried off as exhiles or left for dead. Such was the context for this Psalm. Written by Aspen, a chief musician, the Psalm focuses on the need for God to intervene on Jerusalem and Israel’s behalf. It is in fact, a prayer for God to do so.
The focal verses are the highlights of the song.
In vs.9, Aseph asks God to help Jerusalem. He calls God, “God of our salvation”, indicating that Aseph and Jerusalem had known God as their rescuer prior to this time, and could count on Him for salvation. Its asks God to deliver or save them and to “atone” or to redeem/pay for/make restitution for them and the sins that they had committed.
Vs 13, reminds God of Who He was and of who they were (not because God is prome to forgetfulness, but out of a faith and expectaion on the writer’s part that God could rescues them AGAIN!). He says, “Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture”. YOUR PEOPLE, THE SHEEP OF YOUR PASTURE is in recognition of a God Who is the Great Shepherd Who gave His life for His sheep (Psalm 23, John 10:7-18).
We “will thank You forever; we will declare Your praise to generation after generation” is the response of a greatful people who have experienced God’s goodness!
Historically, yes, God did save and rebuild Jerusalem, but on a personal level, He can rebuild you too! His character has not changed. His ways have not changed. God loves all people and wants to restore all unto Himself. All we need to do is ask . . . Those of us who know Him do and will thank Him forever!
Think about it!
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