Psalms 86:1-17·~1 min

Tried but Trusting

David asks the LORD to incline his ear and answer because he is poor and needy. He requests preservation, salvation, mercy, and joy, presenting himself as God's servant who calls out continually. His confidence rests not in himself but in the Lord's kindness, forgiveness, abundant steadfast love, and attentiveness to prayer. Because God is this kind of God, David is sure that in the day of trouble he can call and be answered.

A¹ prayer of David. ²Preserve my soul, for I am godly. ³Be merciful to me, O Lord, ⁴Bring joy to Your servant, ⁵For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, ⁶Hear my prayer, O LORD, ⁷In the day of my distress I call on You,

David declares that among all the supposed gods there is none like the Lord and no works like his works. Therefore all the nations God has made will come and worship before him and glorify his name. He is great, performs wonders, and alone is God.

⁸O Lord, there is none like You among the gods, ⁹All the nations You have made ¹⁰For You are great and perform wonders;

David asks to be taught God's way so he may walk in truth and asks for an undivided heart that fears God's name. He promises wholehearted praise and everlasting glorification of God's name. His gratitude is rooted in the great steadfast love that has delivered his soul from the depths of Sheol.

¹¹Teach me Your way, O LORD, ¹²I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; ¹³For great is Your loving devotion to me;

David describes a violent band of arrogant men rising against him without regard for God. Against that threat he sets the revelation of the Lord as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and truth. He asks God to turn and have mercy, strengthen his servant, and save the son of his maidservant. Finally, he asks for a sign of God's goodness so that his enemies will see and be put to shame, knowing that the Lord has helped and comforted him.

¹⁴The arrogant rise against me, O God; ¹⁵But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, ¹⁶Turn to me and have mercy; ¹⁷Show me a sign of Your goodness,

Section summaryDavid opens by pleading for God to hear and preserve him, describing himself as poor, needy, and devoted, and asking for mercy because he calls on the Lord all day long. He supports these requests by praising God's goodness, forgiveness, and readiness to hear. The psalm then broadens into worship, affirming that no one among the gods is like the Lord and that all nations will come to worship him because he alone does marvelous things. In the final movement David asks to be taught God's way, to receive an undivided heart, and to be saved from arrogant enemies by the God who is compassionate, gracious, and full of steadfast love and truth.

Role in the chapterThis section combines personal lament with doctrinal confidence, showing that trust in God's character gives shape and courage to prayer under pressure.