Psalms 86

A Prayer by David.

Hear, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.

Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.

Hear, LORD, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.

In the day of my trouble I will call on you, for you will answer me.

There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, nor any deeds like your deeds.

All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.

For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.

Teach me your way, LORD. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forever more.

For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.

God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, and they don’t hold regard for you before them.

But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.

Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your servant.

Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, LORD, have helped me, and comforted me.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter is a personal prayer of David marked by urgent supplication, profound reverence, and confident trust in God’s mercy and uniqueness. Situated among the later Psalms, it blends lament with praise, expressing dependence on God amid distress while affirming His sovereignty, goodness, and saving power.

Flow.

The psalm opens with a cry for divine attention and help, grounded in the psalmist’s humility and faith (vv. 1–4).
It shifts to praise, highlighting God’s readiness to forgive, His incomparability among all beings, and His universal reign (vv. 5–10).
A petition for instruction and inward renewal follows, leading into renewed vows of praise for past deliverance (vv. 11–13).
The psalm closes with an appeal for rescue from arrogant adversaries, a plea for a visible sign of God’s favor, and an affirmation of His sustaining presence (vv. 14–17).

Connections. Following chapter 85, which also blends communal longing with confidence in God’s salvation, Psalm 86 continues the pattern of prayer rooted in divine character while personalizing the cry for help. Like its predecessor, it moves from distress to praise, but with a stronger emphasis on individual need and moral contrast between the godly sufferer and the proud. The intimate tone and focus on God’s steadfast love prepare the way for the exuberant doxologies of Psalm 87 and the global vision of worship in Psalm 88, which further develop the theme of God’s mercy drawing all nations to Himself.

What it teaches. The psalm bears witness to the nature of covenantal relationship: God is both holy and merciful, sovereign over all gods and nations (WCF 2.2), and attentive to those who trust and obey Him. It echoes the divine self-revelation in Exodus 34 by emphasizing God’s grace, slowness to anger, and abounding steadfast love (WCF 7.1; HC LD 4). The plea for an undivided heart reflects the renewal of the will by God’s Spirit (WCF 13.3), while the affirmation of God’s oneness and works parallels the ascription of divine glory found in the ecumenical creeds. The psalmist’s confidence that God hears and answers prayer underscores a foundational reality of communion with God (HC LD 46; WCF 11.2).

Apply. When surrounded by hostility and need, draw near to God with honesty and hope, entrusting yourself to His character as revealed in His promises.

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