Psalms 86

Psalms 86:1-17

a Prayer to the God of Mercy Psalms 86:1-17 This psalm is largely composed of quotations. When the soul is in great need, it is not concerned with inventing new forms of address to God, but avails itself of well-known and well-worn phrases. Our Lord in Gethsemane “ prayed the same words.” The background of the psalm is faith which reckons on God’ s goodness. Thou art good, Psalms 86:5; thou art great, Psalms 86:10; thou art merciful and gracious, Psalms 86:15. Be sure to build prayer upon the revelation of God’ s nature as given by Christ. Psalms 86:1-5. That we are indeed poor and needy is our strongest plea with God. That we are holy is true only so far as we present Christ as our righteousness. That we cry all the day is a plea which God honors. But the best of all is the plenteousness of His lovingkindness. Psalms 86:6-13. Again, in this strophe, there is the cry of need; and faith is helped by remembering that God’ s power is sufficient. God is so great that He can include our little life in His microscopic care. Psalms 86:14-17. We can readily imagine the rabble that beset the psalmist, for we are similarly beset; but nearer than they can come is the calm and holy inner presence of God.

Bow down thine ear! David is in straits, deprived of human aid, his life endangered by a band of proud and ungodly men. He quotes the help given him by God (Psalms 86:13). This refers to his sufferings from Absalom and his advisers.

The Psalm is divided into two strophes. The first ten verses make up the first and the remaining ones the second. Notice the refrain in Psalms 5:1-12; Psalms 10:1-18; Psalms 15:1-5, “Thou art good! …. Thou art great! Thou art God alone! Thou art full of compassion!”

Psalms 86:1-2. I am poor and needy! He founds his prayer on his misery and on the fact of his being one of God’s chosen ones. “‘I am holy” might be rendered “I am godly” (R.V.). The Creator is the best Preserver. And He who has begotten passionate desires after Himself can best meet and satisfy them.

Psalms 86:4. Rejoice the soul of thy servant “We may expect comfort from God when we maintain communion with God. God’s goodness appears in two things, in giving and forgiving. We may expect that God will meet us with his mercies when we in our prayers send forth our souls to meet Him.”

Psalms 86:11. United my heart to fear thy name Our thoughts are apt to wander and scatter. We therefore need so much that God would gather them up into a true unity (Philippians 3:13-14). The united heart, which has but one purpose and desire to live for God, is the heart which is most sure of God’s “way,” and most full of praise (Psalms 86:12). That heart experiences His care (Psalms 86:13).

Psalms 86:15. Full of compassion Who can fathom the fullness of God’s compassion? (Romans 11:33; Ephesians 3:19; Philippians 4:7).

Psalms 86:16. Give thy strength unto thy servant Well is it when we begin to appropriate God’s strength (Philippians 4:13).