Abstract / DOI
«Thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Thy name!»: Israel’s Petition for Forgiveness of its Transgressions. We are often involved in destructive social conditions which we did not originally cause, the reinforcement of which we however continuously contribute to. The Bible is likewise familiar with such enmeshment in guilt. In the Old Testament, Israel pleads for the acquittal of its collective guilt in Psalms of Lament. This article outlines the complex of problems surrounding the acquittal of collective guilt. Subsequently, it offers an interpretation of Isaiah 63:7-64:11, which is an emotionally powerful national (or communal) Song of Lament, rich in imagery and theologically both creative and radical. Its invocation of God, cited in the title of this article, establishes a connection with the Lord’s Prayer. The conclusion of the proffered exegetical considerations summarises the theology of Israel’s prayerful lament, beseeching forgiveness of their collective transgressions.