(b) A Cry for National Defence Psalm 79:6-13

Text: “Help us, O God of our Salvation, for the glory of Thy Name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Thy Name’s sake.”

Psalm 79:9.

Good morning, patriotic Christian! When we are Spiritually regenerated by the Lord God’s power and Sovereign grace – our primary and total allegiance is to our Sovereign Lord: King Jesus the risen Christ, the Son of the Living Lord God. God the Son is our King of all kings. Praise and all worship unto His Holy Name! Amen.

However, in my humble opinion, there is absolutely no conflict of commitment or service, for genuine ‘born again’ Christians to have and practice a healthy patriotism to the nation and the country that he/she loves. 

Patriotism for one’s National identity, and full allegiance/commitment to Christ Jesus are not an incompatible or contradictory position for true Christians to hold.  In all things, it becomes Jesus first, and obedience to God in Him, - and all other political and national allegiances come a long way after this primary commitment.  Praise God for patriotic, yet Christ-centred and totally committed Christians!

Dictionary Definition: Patriot – (noun) a person who truly, though sometimes unquestioningly, loves and serves his or her country. (adjective) devoted to one’s country. (adjective) patriotic, devoted to one’s country; like a patriot; motivated by love of one’s country; for the public good; (noun) patriotism (or pat) fellow-countryman, from patrios, (from pater, a father).  (The Chambers Dictionary, page 1194)

The genuine ‘public good’ and Spiritual welfare for the souls of one’s nation and country should be at the forefront of every Spiritually regenerated, Bible-believing Christian.  It most certainly was for the apostle Paul and the prophet Isaiah!

The Patriotism of the apostle Paul: “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”  (Romans 9:1-5)

Paul the patriot had full patriotic concerns about the Spiritual welfare of his countrymen and countrywomen in the national territory of Israel. They needed faith to receive Christ as their true Messiah.  They needed to fully repent, not only from Crucifying the Christ, Nationally, but from the vileness of their own personally committed sins.  No repentance, no Salvation!

The Patriotism of the prophet Isaiah: is also noted here in Romans chapter 9: “Isaiah also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness: Because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah.” (Romans 9:27-29)

Isaiah was fearlessly and patriotically flagging up God’s open displeasure and anger at the overall state of the Hebrew nation at the time, and pleading with them to put away the gross and abominable sin that was causing the entire nation to be cursed by God’s Divine wrath.

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

When a nation is seeking to exalt Christ as Saviour and Lord; when a nation is living in reverence to the Living Lord God Jehovah – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost – that nation can call for days of National Repentance from sin; days of Personal Repentance from sin, and our Holy Lord God will rise up and defend that nation’s territorial, National, and Spiritual honour.  Oh, that our once ‘Christian’ nations might return to the Lord God in repentance, that we might know and be certain of His Divine direction, protection, and Holy Presence.

Verse 6. “Pour out Thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known Thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not known Thy Name. Neglect of prayer by unbelievers is threatened with punishment. The prophet’s imprecation (curse) is the same in effect with a threatening (see Jeremiah 10:25), and the same imprecation. The prophets would not have used such an imprecation (curse) against those that call not upon God, but that their neglect of calling on His Name makes them liable to His wrath and fury; and no neglect makes men more liable to the wrath of God but the neglect of duty.” (David Clarkson 1622-1686)

Verse 8. “O remember not against us former iniquities. This is a prayer of National Repentance, and Personal Repentance from former sins.  A most necessary prayer for British and American nations, and leaders of these once ‘Christian’ nations, to be making today in 2026.

Verse 8. “O remember not against us former iniquities. Sins accumulate against nations. Generations lay up stores of transgressions to be visited upon their successors; hence this urgent prayer.  In Josiah’s days, the most earnest repentance was not able to avert the doom which former long years of idolatry had sealed against Judah.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 344)

Verse 9. “…And deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Thy Name’s sake. God is free to choose what suits His own heart best and most conduceth to the exalting of His great Name: and He delights more in the mercy shown to one than in the blood of all the damned that are made a sacrifice to His justice. And, indeed, He had a higher end in their damnation than their suffering; and that was the enhancing of the glory of His mercy, in His saved ones.” (William Gurnall 1617-1679)

Thought: Verse 9. “Help us, O God of our Salvation!” There can be no Divine defence of a nation, where there is no genuine, National and Personal repentance from sin, nor Christ’s Salvation practiced within that nation.  A Holy Lord God cannot come to the defence of an unholy and sin-loving nation.  It is time to take heed of this Biblical fact!