Psalm 79: A Prayer for Wisdom by Asaph

Verse 9: Save us, O God, for the sake of your glorious name; help us, considering your renown. Rescue us and forgive our sins.

Asaph is a temple musician and a prayer (lyricist) on par with David. His prayers hold a profound depth. If the destruction of Jerusalem by foreigners is the context of his prayer, then the restoration of Jerusalem would be the purpose of his prayer. What is important is the foundation he mobilizes to achieve the objective of his prayer. Instead of the usual formula of asking for forgiveness because he has done wrong, he traces back to the initial relationship between God and Israel. It is here that the depth of his prayer is revealed. The logic he uses to persuade God is, in fact, quite simple. Asaph asks whether it was Israel's ancestor Abraham who first sought God, or was it God who sought him first? In other words, wasn't the relationship between God and Israel initiated by God? And wasn't it God's "name and honor" that were pledged at that time? If the relationship between God and Israel is broken because of Israel's sin, Asaph indirectly questions whether the covenant between God and humans is that fragile and weak. Asaph asks God if there is no other formula besides the sin and punishment equation. Surely, How can God not give the answer that Asaph knew?