Psalm 86 — Jehovah Gives Comfort
Introduction: Though scripture has many examples of David’s firm trust in the LORD, he was not immune from some extreme difficulties. In those times he turned to the LORD in prayer for comfort and help. Though he loved the LORD with his whole heart, he did not consider himself to be without sin as he praised the LORD for being ready to forgive. David wanted to receive the gracious mercy that only the LORD God can provide from the abundance of his lovingkindness.
NOTE: All scripture passages are taken from the American Standard Version.
A — Ask Jehovah to Listen and Answer
Psalm 86 “1 Bow down thine ear, O Jehovah, and answer me; For I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my soul; For I am godly: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. 3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord; For unto thee do I cry all the day long. 4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant; For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”
Comments: David made a humble request to the LORD to preserve his life, as he used the phrase “bow down thine ear, O Jehovah” giving recognition to the fact that the LORD is far above the position of man. The phrase “poor and needy” is not in reference to a lack of material wealth, but rather to being weak and afflicted, and in need of help for deliverance from a very difficult situation. Psalm 40 “17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God.” When David said he was godly, he identified himself as a servant of God who had placed his trust in the LORD. Psalm 37:28 “Jehovah loveth justice, And forsaketh not his saints; They are preserved for ever.” David’s request was based on God’s mercy, not David’s merit.
B — The Lord Is Good and Ready to Forgive
Psalm 86 “5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness unto all them that call upon thee. 6 Give ear, O Jehovah, unto my prayer; And hearken unto the voice of my supplications. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee; For thou wilt answer me.”
Comments: The LORD is the very essence of goodness, and how wonderful it is to know that he is ready to forgive when we ask. Jesus said, Mark 11:25 “And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” The LORD is abundantly overflowing with mercy and lovingkindness available to all those who call upon him. David showed in another psalm that his trust was in the righteousness of Jehovah. Psalm 145 “18 Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.”
C — There Is None Like You and No Works Like Yours
Psalm 86 “8 There is none like unto thee among the gods, O Lord; Neither are there any works like unto thy works. 9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify thy name. 10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone.”
Comments: David expressed his obedience to one of the commandments of the LORD as he confessed that there is no other God. Deuteronomy 3:24 “O Lord Jehovah, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy strong hand: for what god is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy mighty acts?” When David said that all nations would come and worship the LORD, he confidently asserted his belief that the grace of the LORD was boundless. Isaiah 45 “22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. 23 By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”
D — Teach Me Your Way Lord, to Walk in Truth
Psalm 86 “11 Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name. 12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart; And I will glorify thy name for evermore. 13 For great is thy lovingkindness toward me; And thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.”
Comments: Moses taught the foundation for walking in the ways of God. Deuteronomy 10:20 “Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; him shalt thou serve; and to him shalt thou cleave, and by his name shalt thou swear.” That teaching leads us to Christ. John 6:45 “It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me.” John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.” 1 Corinthians 15 “55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? 57 but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
E — Show Me a Token for Good for Your Name’s Sake
Psalm 86 “14 O God, the proud are risen up against me, And a company of violent men have sought after my soul, And have not set thee before them. 15 But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. 16 Oh turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; Give thy strength unto thy servant, And save the son of thy handmaid. 17 Show me a token for good, That they who hate me may see it, and be put to shame, Because thou, Jehovah, hast helped me, and comforted me.”
Comments: David described in more detail the trouble that he had first mentioned in verse seven. He said that his enemies were proud and violent men who did not recognize the LORD. David’s appeal was based on the character of the LORD, similar to the way Moses made his request. Numbers 14 “18 Jehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation. 19 Pardon, I pray thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy lovingkindness.” David wanted his enemies to understand that the victory for him would not be to his own credit, but to the glory of the LORD.
Reflections in Prayer
LORD, I ask that you listen to my call when I face situations that have overpowered me. I confess to you LORD that I am poor and needy whenever I trust in my own efforts to do those things that can only be done through your strength within me. Though I have never experienced a direct fear that I might lose my life as David faced, there have been times when fear has gripped me to the point of feeling unable to make a decision. I want to go to your Word to be reminded of your mercy so I will be able to have the joy of knowing that you will preserve my soul through all situations. For you, LORD, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all those who call upon you. This gives me the confidence to believe that you will hear and answer when I come to you in prayer.
LORD, I believe in my heart that there is no God but you alone, and your creation displays your glory throughout all of heaven and earth. People of every tribe, tongue, and nation will bow before you in worship to glorify your name because of your greatness and your wondrous works. Teach me your ways LORD, so I may fear your name and walk humbly in your truth with my whole heart as I wait for that excellent and jubilant day. I want to glorify your name as long as I live because you have victoriously delivered my soul from the sting of death. May I have the same heart as David to desire that those who do not set the LORD before them will see the blessings granted to me, and be ashamed in their rejection. All my praise must go to my precious Savior for the grace and mercy shown to me in your lovingkindness and truth as you continue to be my comfort. Amen.
Published 10 August 2013