Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
O 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.
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
Shew 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.
Psalms 86 is a heartfelt prayer, a cry for help and a declaration of faith in the one true God. While attributed to David, its placement within "Book Three" of the Psalms (Psalms 73-89), along with its echoes of earlier Old Testament passages and David's other psalms, leads many scholars to believe it may be a prayer of David, reflecting his style and theology, rather than directly written by him. Regardless of authorship, its message of reliance on God's mercy and power resonates deeply with believers today.
Context and Structure
This psalm, unique as the only one attributed to David in this section of Psalms, draws heavily from the wellspring of Old Testament faith. It alludes to key expressions found in Exodus 15:11, 34:6, and Deuteronomy 3:24, and resonates with themes found in David's other psalms such as Psalms 22:28, 25:4, 31:2, 40:17, and 54:3. The psalm is a tapestry woven with threads of familiar prayers and praises, revealing a deep understanding of God's character.
The prayer unfolds in three distinct movements:
A Plea for Rescue (Psalms 86:1-7): The psalmist, feeling vulnerable and in need, urgently seeks God's intervention. He appeals to God's loving-kindness and mercy as his only hope in the face of overwhelming danger.
Praise for God's Uniqueness (Psalms 86:8-13): The prayer shifts to adoration, celebrating God's unparalleled nature and His past acts of deliverance. The psalmist recognizes God as the one true God, worthy of worship from all nations, and submits to His will, seeking guidance and a unified heart.
Renewed Appeal for Safety (Psalms 86:14-17): The prayer returns to the initial plea, this time focusing on the threat posed by wicked individuals. Confident in God's faithfulness, the psalmist requests a tangible sign of God's favor, a visible assurance of His protection.
Exploring the Depths of Psalms 86
The psalmist uses several names for God throughout this psalm. The prayer employs various Hebrew names for God—YHWH, Elohim and Adonai. Each name carries its own nuance and significance, painting a richer picture of God's multifaceted character.
Psalms 86:1-5: A Foundation of Humility and Trust
David begins by appealing to God for help, grounding his request in humility. "I am poor and needy" (Psalms 86:1) is not a statement of material poverty alone, but a recognition of spiritual dependence. He further emphasizes his reliance on God by declaring, "I am faithful... your servant... trusts in you" (Psalms 86:2). This establishes a foundation of submission and unwavering belief. Confident in God's character, David knows the Lord is kind and ready to forgive (Psalms 86:5). When facing your own times of need, address any known sin in your life and appeal to God's character as David did.
Psalms 86:6-10: The Incomparable God
David calls on God to hear his plea (Psalms 86:6). The psalmist proclaims the uniqueness of God, asserting that "there is no one like you among the gods, O Lord; no deeds can compare to yours" (Psalms 86:8). He alone performs supernatural works and wonders (Psalms 86:8, 10). Why would we turn to anyone or anything else? This passage highlights God's unrivaled power and majesty, reinforcing the idea that He is the ultimate source of help and hope.
Psalms 86:11-13: A Heart Devoted to Truth
David asks the Lord to teach him so that he could have an undivided mind to follow Him—rather than trying to pursue two conflicting ways to live (Psalms 86:11). This kind of single-minded devotion to God leads to obedience (I will live by your truth) and worship (I will praise you with all my heart) (Psalms 86:11-12).
Psalms 86:14-17: Facing Arrogance with Faith
David seeks strength to confront the arrogant individuals who attack him (Psalms 86:14). Their arrogance stems from their rejection of God's guidance. The proud person lives life from his own limited, distorted viewpoint. The humble person, by contrast, lives life from God’s heavenly, righteous viewpoint. David finds solace and strength in the knowledge that God is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness" (Psalms 86:15). He appeals to God's righteous character, revealed to Moses in Exodus 34:6, as the basis for his deliverance. This God of compassion, grace, faithful love, and truth was available to Moses. He was available to David. And He's available to you. David wants a sign of God’s goodness, showing that He would deliver him from his enemies (Psalms 86:17), so that all would know that God had worked on his behalf.
Application for Today
Psalms 86 teaches us the importance of:
- Humility: Recognizing our dependence on God.
- Faith: Trusting in God's character and promises.
- Single-minded devotion: Seeking God's guidance and living according to His truth.
- Prayer: Bringing our needs and fears to God, confident that He hears us.
This psalm is a timeless reminder that, no matter the challenges we face, we can always turn to the compassionate and powerful God for help, guidance, and assurance.
Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
O 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.
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
Shew 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.
Psalms 86 is a heartfelt prayer, a cry for help and a declaration of faith in the one true God. While attributed to David, its placement within "Book Three" of the Psalms (Psalms 73-89), along with its echoes of earlier Old Testament passages and David's other psalms, leads many scholars to believe it may be a prayer of David, reflecting his style and theology, rather than directly written by him. Regardless of authorship, its message of reliance on God's mercy and power resonates deeply with believers today.
Context and Structure
This psalm, unique as the only one attributed to David in this section of Psalms, draws heavily from the wellspring of Old Testament faith. It alludes to key expressions found in Exodus 15:11, 34:6, and Deuteronomy 3:24, and resonates with themes found in David's other psalms such as Psalms 22:28, 25:4, 31:2, 40:17, and 54:3. The psalm is a tapestry woven with threads of familiar prayers and praises, revealing a deep understanding of God's character.
The prayer unfolds in three distinct movements:
A Plea for Rescue (Psalms 86:1-7): The psalmist, feeling vulnerable and in need, urgently seeks God's intervention. He appeals to God's loving-kindness and mercy as his only hope in the face of overwhelming danger.
Praise for God's Uniqueness (Psalms 86:8-13): The prayer shifts to adoration, celebrating God's unparalleled nature and His past acts of deliverance. The psalmist recognizes God as the one true God, worthy of worship from all nations, and submits to His will, seeking guidance and a unified heart.
Renewed Appeal for Safety (Psalms 86:14-17): The prayer returns to the initial plea, this time focusing on the threat posed by wicked individuals. Confident in God's faithfulness, the psalmist requests a tangible sign of God's favor, a visible assurance of His protection.
Exploring the Depths of Psalms 86
The psalmist uses several names for God throughout this psalm. The prayer employs various Hebrew names for God—YHWH, Elohim and Adonai. Each name carries its own nuance and significance, painting a richer picture of God's multifaceted character.
Psalms 86:1-5: A Foundation of Humility and Trust
David begins by appealing to God for help, grounding his request in humility. "I am poor and needy" (Psalms 86:1) is not a statement of material poverty alone, but a recognition of spiritual dependence. He further emphasizes his reliance on God by declaring, "I am faithful... your servant... trusts in you" (Psalms 86:2). This establishes a foundation of submission and unwavering belief. Confident in God's character, David knows the Lord is kind and ready to forgive (Psalms 86:5). When facing your own times of need, address any known sin in your life and appeal to God's character as David did.
Psalms 86:6-10: The Incomparable God
David calls on God to hear his plea (Psalms 86:6). The psalmist proclaims the uniqueness of God, asserting that "there is no one like you among the gods, O Lord; no deeds can compare to yours" (Psalms 86:8). He alone performs supernatural works and wonders (Psalms 86:8, 10). Why would we turn to anyone or anything else? This passage highlights God's unrivaled power and majesty, reinforcing the idea that He is the ultimate source of help and hope.
Psalms 86:11-13: A Heart Devoted to Truth
David asks the Lord to teach him so that he could have an undivided mind to follow Him—rather than trying to pursue two conflicting ways to live (Psalms 86:11). This kind of single-minded devotion to God leads to obedience (I will live by your truth) and worship (I will praise you with all my heart) (Psalms 86:11-12).
Psalms 86:14-17: Facing Arrogance with Faith
David seeks strength to confront the arrogant individuals who attack him (Psalms 86:14). Their arrogance stems from their rejection of God's guidance. The proud person lives life from his own limited, distorted viewpoint. The humble person, by contrast, lives life from God’s heavenly, righteous viewpoint. David finds solace and strength in the knowledge that God is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness" (Psalms 86:15). He appeals to God's righteous character, revealed to Moses in Exodus 34:6, as the basis for his deliverance. This God of compassion, grace, faithful love, and truth was available to Moses. He was available to David. And He's available to you. David wants a sign of God’s goodness, showing that He would deliver him from his enemies (Psalms 86:17), so that all would know that God had worked on his behalf.
Application for Today
Psalms 86 teaches us the importance of:
- Humility: Recognizing our dependence on God.
- Faith: Trusting in God's character and promises.
- Single-minded devotion: Seeking God's guidance and living according to His truth.
- Prayer: Bringing our needs and fears to God, confident that He hears us.
This psalm is a timeless reminder that, no matter the challenges we face, we can always turn to the compassionate and powerful God for help, guidance, and assurance.