Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.
 Help us, God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.
Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
    will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
    we will proclaim your praise.

Psalm 79:8, 9, 13

“May your mercy com quickly to meet us!” Yes! We owed a debt we could not pay, and in His mercy He has completely paid that debt! He blesses us even when we deserved punishment. His mercy is overwhelming! God’s mercy is rooted in His great love for us.

What’s especially notable is that His mercy, his deliverance, his forgiveness is for His name’s sake! I love how the NET Bible translates that phrase in verse 9, “For the sake of your glorious reputation.”

God says about Israel in Ezekiel 36:19-21, “I scattered them among the nations; they were dispersed throughout foreign countries… I was concerned for my holy reputation, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went.” And then the good news in Psalm 106:8, “Yet he delivered them for the sake of his reputation, that he might reveal his power.”

And that’s the mercy offered to us!

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-7

God of mercy, God of grace,
show the brightness of your face.
Shine upon us, Saviour, shine;
fill your world with light divine,
and your saving health extend
unto earth’s remotest end.

Let the people praise you, Lord;
be by all that live adored.
Let the nations shout and sing
glory to their gracious King;
at your feet their tribute pay,
and your holy will obey.

Let the people praise you, Lord;
earth shall then its fruits afford.
Unto us your blessing give;
we to you devoted live,
all below and all above,
one in joy and light and love.

Henry Francis Lyte, 1793-1847

As you pray, thank God for his mercy and love that makes you alive together with Christ. Consider your thoughts and actions – in what ways do they bring honor to God’s great name? Rejoice today in His mercy and look for ways to pay it forward in kindnesses to others.