Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! (Psalm 79:9)
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, all throughout the Bible, God’s word makes clear that we are saved from the punishment for our sins because of God’s great love, not because of our great moral lives. After thinking about the destruction of their city and temple, the psalmist cries out to God for help. But, he does not do so because he thinks they deserve God to rescue them. He does it based upon God’s mercy and His name.
A person’s name was also a description of their character, who they are. It is no surprise then, that God would ultimately answer the psalmist’s prayer by sending His one and only Son Jesus, whose name means “God is salvation.” Jesus delivered us from the consequences for our sin. He saved us from eternal punishment. He atoned for our sins by satisfying the righteous wrath of God by giving His life for us. In response to God’s great salvation, let us respond in gratitude to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves by God’s Spirit and sharing His Good News.