John Calvin Commentary Psalms 79:9

"Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name`s sake." — Psalms 79:9 (ASV)

Help, O God of our salvation! They again repeat in this verse that whatever afflictions they endured were to be traced to the anger of God, and that they could have no comfort under them unless He were reconciled to them. Being deeply aware that they had committed many transgressions, to strengthen their hope of obtaining pardon, they use a variety of expressions.

In the first place, as an argument to persuade God to show them favor, they address Him as the God of their salvation. In the second place, they testify that they bring nothing of their own to persuade Him to have mercy on them, and that the only plea they present to Him is His own glory.

From this we learn that sinners are not reconciled to God by satisfactions or by the merit of good works, but by a free and unmerited forgiveness.

The observation I made a little earlier, and which I explained more fully regarding the sixth psalm, should be kept in mind here.

When God visits us with the rod, instead of merely desiring to be relieved from external chastisements, our primary concern should be to have God pacified toward us. We should not follow the example of foolish sick people, who are anxious only to have the symptoms of their disease removed and disregard being delivered from its source and cause.

Regarding the word כפר, chapper, which expositors translate as Be merciful, or propitious, I have had an opportunity to speak about this elsewhere. It properly means to cleanse, or expiate, and is applied to sacrifices. Whenever, therefore, we desire to obtain the favor of God, let us remember the death of Christ, for without shedding of blood is no remissions (Hebrews 9:22).