Israel was conquered by the Babylonians around 586 B.C. They had turned their backs on God for so long that He finally allowed their enemies to conquer them. This Psalm is a plea to God for help and for vengeance.
His request isn't made based on anything good the Israelites have done since being slaughtered and taken into captivity, but rather it is based on God's name, His compassion and a sense of justice in that the other nations don't acknowledge God.
The psalmist asks for forgiveness.
"Do not hold past sins against us" v.8
"Deliver us and atone for our sins" v.9
"Atone" means to "wipe off, cleanse, cover." We will see a beautiful picture of atonement and the "covering" during the Passion Play. During the crucifixion scene the choir will sing "Cover Me." (side note - Which they sang beautifully yesterday) and at the same time we will have a flash back to the first Passover when the blood was placed on the doorposts of the Israelite homes. The blood was a covering for the home and the death angel passed over that family. What a beautiful picture of what is available to everyone through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of what Christ has done for us, we can join the psalmist in saying
"Then we, your people, the sheep of Your pasture,
will thank You forever;
we will declare Your praise to generation after generation."
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