Psalms 86

¹A Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

²Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

Psa 86:1-17. This is a prayer in which the writer, with deep emotion, mingles petitions and praises, now urgent for help, and now elated with hope, in view of former mercies. The occurrence of many terms and phrases peculiar to David’s Psalms clearly intimates its authorship. 1-2. poor and needy--a suffering child of God, as in Psa 10:12, 17; 18:27. I am holy--or, “godly,” as in Psa 4:3; 85:8.

⁴Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

4. lift up my soul--with strong desire (Psa 25:1).

⁵For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

⁶Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

⁷In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

5-7. unto all ... that call upon thee--or, “worship Thee” (Psa 50:15; 91:15) however undeserving (Ex 34:6; Le 11:9-13).

⁸Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

8. neither ... works--literally, “nothing like thy works,” the “gods” have none at all.

⁹All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

¹⁰For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

9-10. The pious Jews believed that God’s common relation to all would be ultimately acknowledged by all men (Psa 45:12-16; 47:9).

¹¹Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

11. Teach--Show, point out. the way--of Providence. walk in thy truth--according to its declarations. unite my heart--fix all my affections (Psa 12:2; Jas 4:8). to fear thy name--(compare Psa 86:12) to honor Thy perfections.

¹³For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

¹⁴O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

13-14. The reason: God had delivered him from death and the power of insolent, violent, and godless persecutors (Psa 54:3; Eze 8:12).

¹⁵But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

15. Contrasts God with his enemies (compare Psa 86:5).

¹⁶O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

16. son ... handmaid--homeborn servant (compare Lu 15:17).

¹⁷Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

17. Show me--literally, “Make with me a token,” by Thy providential care. Thus in and by his prosperity his enemies would be confounded.