Bible Commentaries
Psalms 86

Verses 1-17

Psalms 86

A Petition In Need

Scripture v. 1-17:

This is a prayer of David, believed to have been offered in a time of Absalom’s revolt. ft is a prayer throughout, not a meditation.

Verses 1, 2 entreat "bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear (heed) me; For I am poor and needy," or afflicted and wretched, an object of pity, to move a God of mercy; He added, "preserve my soul, for I am holy (one whom thou favorest), the anointed King of Israel." On this ground he pled, "O thou my God, save thy servant that (continually) trusteth in thee," Psalms 16:10. He represented the Holy One of God, Acts 2:27; Mark 1:24; Hebrews 5:7.

Verses 3, 4 continue, "be merciful unto me, O Lord, for unto thee do I lift up my soul," in supplication, as an helpless child reaches out in pleading tears to a father or mother, a prayer God will not deny, Psalms 145:18-19; Isaiah 55:6-7; Romans 10:13; Psalms 25:1.

Verse 5 adds "for thou, O Lord, (Hob. adonai, caring master, used seven times in this psalm) art good (ideal) and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee," Psalms 130:7; Psalms 145:9; Joel 2:13.

Verse 6 pleads "give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplication (continual pleading)," Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:7.

Verse 7 confides "in the day (time) of my trouble (deep trouble) I will call upon thee (in faith), for thou wilt answer me," based on both God’s promises and David’s past experiences, Psalms 40:1-3; Deuteronomy 4:7; 2 Chronicles 7:12-16.

Verse 8 declared that, "among the gods there is (exists) none like unto (compared with) thee O Lord or master; neither are there any works (of supernatural or miraculous nature) like unto thy works," as certified, illustrated, Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 3:24; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalms 89:6.

Verse 9 further declares "all nations shall come and worship before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify (magnify) thy name," attribute great honor and majesty to thy name, Isaiah 43:7; Zephaniah 2:11; Zechariah 3:5-7; Revelation 15:4.

Verse 10 affirms that the Lord god is great and repeatedly, continuously, does wonders, as the living God alone can do, Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 44:6; Mark 12:29; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:6.

Verse 11 Is a Davidic plea for God to teach His ways and unite (give him a single heart of love) with the pledge to fear His name and walk in His truth, Psalms 27:11, as the Lord had called him to do, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; James 1:22.

Verses 12, 13 pledge also to praise and glorify the Lord with all his heart, as bidden by the Lord, because of His great mercy in delivering his soul from the lowest hell, or hell beneath, from both the grave and eternal hell, Job 33:18; Job 33:22; Job 33:24; Psalms 56:13; Psalms 88:6; Psalms 116:8; Isaiah 33:17; Jonah 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

Verses 14, 15 appeal to God to note that the proud, arrogant, and defiant have risen up to defy Him, and the assembly of violent men had sought to destroy the life of His anointed servant David. He added that "you, O Lord are a living God full of: 1) Compassion, 2) gracious, 3) longsuffering, and 4) plenteous in mercy and truth, as repeatedly taught in the word, Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 145:8; Joel 2:13; Micah 7:18; Romans 5:20; Ephesians 1:7.

Verses 16, 17 conclude with an appeal for the Lord to turn hastily to rescue him in mercy, give him strength as His servant, and save the son of His handmaid, Israel. He asked the Lord to show him a visible token for good before the eyes of his enemies, even Absalom, that they might be ashamed. All this he dared to ask because the Lord had come to his help and comforted him in the past, Psalms 40:1-5; Philippians 4:19; Proverbs 3:3-5.