A PRAYER OF DAVID.
Psalm 86:1-10, Psalm 86:16-17.
PSALM 86:1. Whatever troubles the Psalmist was facing, he recognises two things: the greatness of the LORD (YHWH), and his own smallness. Such is his humility when he asks the LORD to “Bow down (His) ear” to such a one as is “poor and needy.” The petition is echoed in Psalm 86:6 – “Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend unto the voice of my supplication.”
PSALM 86:2. The grounds for this bold appeal are based in a relationship. “Preserve my soul FOR I am holy.” This anticipates the boldness of the Christian era when we can say categorically that we are ‘the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ’ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21). The Psalmist can address the LORD as “O thou MY God” and refer to himself as “thy servant” - and so frame his confident request, “save thy servant that trusteth in thee.”
PSALM 86:3. The Psalmist continues, “Be merciful unto me, O Lord.” (This name is “Adonai”, meaning Sovereign.) There is no doubt that this prayer is constant: “FOR I cry unto thee DAILY.”
PSALM 86:4. “Rejoice the soul of thy servant.” There is no doubt that this prayer is passionate: “FOR unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” ‘The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much’ (cf. James 5:16).
PSALM 86:5. There is no doubt that this prayer is faithful: “FOR thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” This sounds like a doxology.
Our Sovereign Lord (Adonai) is the same LORD (YHWH), 'the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth’ (cf. Exodus 34:6). He is ‘the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (cf. Ephesians 1:3) who ‘so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (cf. John 3:16). We can be confident that He will not fail us.
PSALM 86:6. The petition of Psalm 86:1 is echoed here: “Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer.” To which the Psalmist adds, “and attend unto the voice of my supplication.”
PSALM 86:7. “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee; for thou wilt answer me,” continues the Psalmist. This is confident persistence in prayer. I will pray as I have prayed, and will continue to pray. ‘Hitherto hath the LORD helped us’ (cf. 1 Samuel 7:12).
PSALM 86:8. There is certainty here. “Among the ‘gods’ there is none like unto thee, O LORD (YHWH).” None in heaven to compare with Him. “Neither are there any works like unto thy works.” None who can match His works of creation and providence, mercy and covenant love upon the earth.
PSALM 86:9. The psalmist is so sure of his Sovereign Lord (Adonai) that he can confidently predict that “all nations whom thou hast made” must eventually realise the greatness of our God, and “come and worship before thee, O Lord (Adonai); and shall glorify thy name.”
PSALM 86:10. The works of the LORD (cf. Psalm 86:8b) are often nothing short of miraculous, proclaiming the greatness and uniqueness of the L0RD.
There is a chorus which connects Psalm 86:10 to the beginning of Psalm 86:11.
“For thou art great,
and doest wondrous things;
thou art God alone.
Teach me thy way O LORD.”
PSALM 86:16. The plea for mercy recognises the need, and the Psalmist’s personal inability to meet that need. We are reminded of David’s repentant ‘Have mercy upon me, O God’ (cf. Psalm 51:1). The plea for strength shows the Psalmist’s recognition that ‘My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth’ (cf. Psalm 121:2).
PSALM 86:17. The request for “a token for good,” a sign, is not for his own personal reassurance, but for the benefit of his haters: that they “may see it and be ashamed.” The victory is the Sovereign Lord’s, and in the end we return thanks “BECAUSE thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.”
