Psalm 86
Psalm 86, Help from the Great God
Psalm 86 is titled “A Prayer of David.” Unlike many psalms connected to a specific historical event, this prayer cannot be placed with certainty at one moment in David’s life. David endured many seasons of danger, betrayal, weakness, opposition, and desperate need, so the circumstances of this psalm could fit several points in his life. The lack of a precise setting is helpful because it allows every believer to enter the prayer. We may not know whether David was threatened by Saul, Philistines, assassins, rebels, or some other danger, but we know he was poor, needy, dependent, opposed, and looking to God for help.
Psalm 86 is also notable because David repeatedly uses the Hebrew word Adonai, meaning Master or Lord, when referring to God. This title emphasizes God’s absolute lordship and David’s posture of submission. David comes before God not as an independent man demanding rights, but as a servant pleading with his Master. The psalm is full of requests, but those requests are joined with reasons. David does not pray carelessly. He pleads thoughtfully, grounding his petitions in God’s character, God’s mercy, God’s past help, David’s covenant connection to God, and David’s present need.
A Plea for Help with Reasons Given
Psalm 86:1, Help Me Because of My Great Need
Psalm 86:1, “Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me, for I am poor and needy.”
David begins with humility. “Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me.” The language is figurative, yet deeply expressive. David pictures the exalted God bending down to hear the low cry of His servant. God is high above heaven and earth, yet He is not too high to hear the humble. The infinite LORD stoops to listen to the needy man who cries to Him.
David’s reason is simple, “for I am poor and needy.” He does not begin by boasting of his strength, office, victories, royal calling, or personal worthiness. He begins with need. He is poor and needy before God. This does not necessarily mean David was materially poor at the moment, though he may have experienced that at times. It means he recognizes his dependence, weakness, insufficiency, and need for mercy.
This is the proper beginning of prayer. A proud man does not truly pray. He may speak religious words, but he does not come as one who needs mercy. David knows that God is compassionate toward the poor and needy. A hard hearted deity would despise weakness, but the LORD hears the lowly. Psalm 34:6, “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”
David’s plea teaches that humility is not a barrier to prayer. It is the doorway. The believer does not need to pretend strength before God. He may say plainly, I am poor and needy.
Psalm 86:2, Help Me Because I Am Connected to You
Psalm 86:2, “Preserve my soul, for I am holy, O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.”
David now asks, “Preserve my soul.” The danger is serious enough that he feels his life is at stake. He needs God to guard, keep, and preserve him. David knew what it was to be hunted, surrounded, betrayed, slandered, and endangered. He does not minimize the threat. He asks God to preserve him.
He gives the reason, “for I am holy.” David is not claiming sinless perfection. He knew his own sinfulness. Rather, he means that he is set apart to God, loyal to God, and distinct from the wicked men who oppose him. He belongs to the LORD and seeks to walk in covenant faithfulness. Compared to those who have risen against him, David is not living in rebellion against God.
He then says, “O thou my God.” This is personal covenant language. David does not merely say God is God. He says, “my God.” Faith lays hold of God personally. David belongs to Him in worship, trust, and submission.
The verse ends, “save thy servant that trusteth in thee.” David gives three connected reasons for help. He is holy, meaning morally and covenantally connected to God. God is his God, meaning David is connected to Him in worship and devotion. David is God’s servant who trusts in Him, meaning David is connected to Him in faith and dependence.
This is a thoughtful prayer. David does not come carelessly. He pleads from relationship. He is not asking help from a stranger. He asks his God to save His servant.
Psalm 86:3 through Psalm 86:4, Help Me Because I Cry unto You
Psalm 86:3, “Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I cry unto thee daily.”
Psalm 86:4, “Rejoice the soul of thy servant, for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”
David now pleads for mercy. “Be merciful unto me, O Lord.” This guards against any misunderstanding of verse 2. When David said, “for I am holy,” he did not mean he had earned God’s help. He immediately asks for mercy. He knows that all blessing from God comes by grace.
This is the first use in the psalm of Adonai, translated “Lord.” David approaches God as Master. His prayer is full of submission. He asks boldly, but not arrogantly.
The reason given is, “for I cry unto thee daily.” David’s prayer is constant. He does not cry once and then turn to another source of help. He cries daily. His persistence shows dependence. Many men pray briefly, then begin trusting their own schemes. David keeps crying to God because he knows God alone is his help.
Verse 4 asks, “Rejoice the soul of thy servant.” This is a beautiful request. David does not merely ask for external deliverance. He asks God to bring joy to his soul. He knows that true joy must come from God. Relief without joy in God would be incomplete.
The reason is, “for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” David lifts his soul to God as an offering of trust and surrender. He does not merely lift words. He lifts himself. His inner life, his desires, griefs, fears, hopes, and dependence are placed before the Lord.
This is the right posture in trouble. The believer should not merely ask God to change events. He should lift his soul to God and ask Him to restore joy within.
Psalm 86:5, Help Me Because You Are a Gracious God
Psalm 86:5, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”
David now grounds his prayer in the character of God. “For thou, Lord, art good.” God’s goodness is the foundation of hope. If God were powerful but not good, prayer would be terrifying. If God were sovereign but not merciful, the needy could not approach Him. But David knows the Lord is good.
He continues, “and ready to forgive.” This is one of the sweetest truths in Scripture. God is not reluctant to forgive. He does not need to be manipulated into mercy. He is ready to forgive. Men often forgive slowly, grudgingly, or only after being pressed. God is ready.
This should correct the fear that keeps sinners from repentance. Some think time will make God more willing to forgive. But God is ready now. Others think tears, promises, religious works, or self punishment must persuade Him. But David says God is ready to forgive those who call upon Him.
The verse continues, “and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” God’s mercy is abundant. It is not thin, reluctant, or rationed. David expects mercy because God has revealed Himself as merciful.
This echoes God’s self revelation to Moses. Exodus 34:6, “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” David had learned who God is from the Scriptures and brought that truth into prayer. He prays according to God’s revealed character.
Psalm 86:6 through Psalm 86:7, The Confidence of an Answer to This Plea for Help
Psalm 86:6, “Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplications.”
Psalm 86:7, “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee, for thou wilt answer me.”
David repeats the request for God to hear. “Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer.” Repetition in prayer is not vain when it comes from sincere need and faith. David multiplies his requests because his trouble is real, and because persistent prayer is pleasing to God when rooted in trust.
He adds, “and attend to the voice of my supplications.” Supplication is pleading. David is not merely reciting formal words. His voice carries need, dependence, and earnest appeal.
Verse 7 gives strong confidence, “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee, for thou wilt answer me.” David knows trouble will come. He does not pretend faith removes every day of distress. But he also knows what he will do in trouble. He will call upon God.
The reason is, “for thou wilt answer me.” This is not presumption. It is confidence in God’s mercy, covenant faithfulness, and past dealings. David has learned that God is not a fair weather friend. God may be called upon in the day of trouble.
This verse teaches the believer to settle beforehand where he will turn in trouble. Do not wait until crisis to decide whether God is trustworthy. David has already decided, In the day of my trouble, I will call upon Thee.
B. Depending on the Great God Who Helps His People
Psalm 86:8 through Psalm 86:10, The Greatness of God
Psalm 86:8, “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord, neither are there any works like unto thy works.”
Psalm 86:9, “All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name.”
Psalm 86:10, “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things, thou art God alone.”
David now lifts his eyes from his trouble to the greatness of God. “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord.” The pagan nations worshiped false gods such as Baal, Ashtoreth, Dagon, and many others. These gods were imagined as limited, immoral, selfish, deceptive, or powerless. David knows the LORD is utterly different. He is not one deity among many. He is incomparable.
The verse continues, “neither are there any works like unto thy works.” God’s works reflect God’s character. His creation, providence, redemption, judgment, and mercy are unlike the works of idols or men. False gods do not create, save, forgive, sustain, or answer prayer. The LORD does wondrous things.
Verse 9 declares God’s universal rule, “All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord.” David understands that God is not merely Israel’s tribal deity. He made all nations. Therefore all nations owe Him worship. This points forward to the day when the nations come under the rule and worship of the true God.
Psalm 22:27, “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.” Revelation 15:4, “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy, for all nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest.”
Verse 10 gives the reason, “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things, thou art God alone.” This is a clear confession of biblical monotheism. The LORD is not merely greater than other gods. He alone is God. There is no rival deity. There is no equal. There is no second divine being competing with Him.
God’s wondrous works are not merely past events. David says God “doest” wondrous things. The living God continues to act. He is great now. He does wonders now. He alone is God now.
Psalm 86:11 through Psalm 86:12, Whole Life Dependence on the Great God
Psalm 86:11, “Teach me thy way, O LORD, I will walk in thy truth, unite my heart to fear thy name.”
Psalm 86:12, “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify thy name for evermore.”
After meditating on God’s greatness, David asks to be taught. “Teach me thy way, O LORD.” This is a shift in the psalm. David began with urgent need for help, but reflection on God’s character leads him to desire instruction. He does not merely want God to give him his way. He wants God to teach him God’s way.
This is vital. Many prayers are concerned only with deliverance, relief, direction, provision, or protection. Those requests are legitimate, but David goes deeper. He asks God to teach him. Trouble reveals not only our need to be rescued, but our need to be instructed.
He says, “I will walk in thy truth.” David does not ask to be taught for curiosity, argument, status, or religious knowledge alone. He wants to live what God teaches. To walk in God’s truth means to order one’s conduct, choices, affections, and obedience according to what God has revealed.
The next request is one of the most important in the psalm, “unite my heart to fear thy name.” David knows his heart can be divided. A divided heart is pulled between God and self, obedience and sin, faith and fear, truth and temptation, devotion and distraction. David asks God to make his heart one.
The goal of the united heart is “to fear thy name.” The fear of God is reverence, awe, submission, worship, and loyal obedience. David wants all the streams of his affections gathered into one river flowing toward the LORD.
This prayer anticipates New Covenant promises. Ezekiel 11:19, “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you, and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.” God must unite the heart. Self effort cannot heal the divided soul. The believer should pray this often, Lord, unite my heart to fear Thy name.
The verse also points to Christ. Jesus said, John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” David prays, “Teach me thy way,” and Christ is the way. David says, “I will walk in thy truth,” and Christ is the truth. David asks for a united heart, and Christ is the life who gives the inward power to walk with God.
Verse 12 says, “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart.” The united heart becomes a praising heart. David wants to praise God with the whole heart, not a divided one. Praise itself helps unite the heart because it gathers the mind, emotions, will, and affections around the glory of God.
He says again, “O Lord my God.” Earlier he used “my God” in the agony of prayer. Now he uses it in praise. God is his God in trouble and his God in worship. He is the God to whom David cries and the God whom David glorifies.
The verse ends, “and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” David’s desire is not temporary gratitude. He wants lifelong and everlasting praise. God’s name deserves eternal glory.
Psalm 86:13 through Psalm 86:15, Depending on the Graciousness of God
Psalm 86:13, “For great is thy mercy toward me, and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.”
Psalm 86:14, “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.”
Psalm 86:15, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”
David now remembers God’s past mercy. “For great is thy mercy toward me.” The word for mercy carries the idea of covenant love, loyal love, steadfast love. David’s confidence is not in vague optimism. It is in God’s covenant mercy.
He continues, “and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.” The phrase may refer to deliverance from death, deep danger, or the grave. David had been rescued from situations that seemed to bring him near to death. Past deliverance becomes the foundation for present hope. The God who rescued him before can rescue him again.
Verse 14 returns to the current threat. “O God, the proud are risen against me.” Pride is at the root of their opposition. Proud men do not set God before them. They exalt themselves, despise restraint, and oppose the servant of God.
David adds, “and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul.” This is not merely one enemy. It is a mob, a gathering, an organized company of violent men seeking his life. David’s danger is real.
He explains their spiritual condition, “and have not set thee before them.” This is the heart of the matter. Men who set God before them are restrained by reverence, conscience, and truth. These men do not. They live as though God does not see, judge, or matter. Therefore they become proud and violent.
Verse 15 gives the contrast, “But thou, O Lord.” David turns from the brutality of men to the character of God. Proud and violent men are real, but they do not define reality. God does.
He says, “art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” This strongly echoes God’s revelation to Moses. Exodus 34:6, “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Exodus 34:7, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
David read and knew the Scriptures. He took what God revealed about Himself and used it in prayer. This is one of the best ways to pray. Learn who God is from His Word, then plead with God according to His revealed character.
The goodness of God is not canceled by the evil of men. The proud rise up, violent men seek David’s life, but God remains compassionate, gracious, longsuffering, abundant in mercy and truth.
Psalm 86:16 through Psalm 86:17, A Hopeful Plea for Help
Psalm 86:16, “O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me, give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.”
Psalm 86:17, “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.”
David closes with renewed petition. “O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me.” He never moves away from mercy. Even after speaking of his holiness, trust, service, prayer, and praise, David still asks for mercy. He does not approach God on the basis of entitlement.
He asks, “give thy strength unto thy servant.” David needs more than encouragement. He needs strength from God. This request is echoed in the New Testament. Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” The servant of God must be strengthened by the God he serves.
He continues, “and save the son of thine handmaid.” David identifies himself as belonging to God from birth, as the son of God’s maidservant. Though Scripture gives limited detail about David’s mother, this phrase suggests David saw himself as born into covenant service. It may also echo the idea of a homeborn servant, one who belongs completely to the master because he is born in the household. David is saying, I am Yours deeply, personally, and entirely. Save me as one who belongs to You.
Verse 17 asks, “Shew me a token for good.” David asks for some sign, mark, or evidence of God’s favor. He does not demand the entire answer immediately. He asks for a token of good, some indication that God is helping, strengthening, and comforting him.
There are wrong ways to ask for signs, especially when unbelief says, I will not trust God unless He proves Himself on my terms. But David’s request is different. He already trusts God. He asks for encouragement in the battle and a visible evidence that would shame those who hate him.
He says, “that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed.” David wants God’s help to be visible enough that his enemies recognize they were wrong to oppose him. Their shame would not merely be personal embarrassment. It would be recognition that God has helped His servant.
The psalm ends, “because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.” David grounds his future expectation in God’s past help. The LORD has helped him before. The LORD has comforted him before. Therefore David can ask again. Every past mercy is a reason for present confidence.
Psalm 86 therefore gives a full pattern for prayer in distress. David begins with need, pleads for preservation, asks for mercy, cries daily, lifts his soul to God, remembers God’s readiness to forgive, trusts that God will answer, praises God as incomparable, asks to be taught God’s way, prays for a united heart, remembers past deliverance, contrasts violent men with God’s compassion, and asks for strength, salvation, and a token for good.
The psalm also points clearly to Christ. Jesus is the true Son of David who perfectly walked in God’s truth with an undivided heart. He alone feared the Father’s name perfectly. He alone fulfilled perfect servant obedience. Through Him, sinners find the God who is good and ready to forgive. Through Him, all nations will come and worship before the LORD. Through Him, the believer receives mercy, strength, comfort, and final deliverance.
