Psalms 86: A Petition for Divine Guidance and Preservation

Psalms 86 documents a deeply personal cry for help from a 'poor and needy' petitioner who relies on the singular character of God. It articulates the essential prayer for an 'undivided heart,' recognizing that spiritual stability is the only defense against the 'proud' who seek the soul’s destruction.

  1. v1-7: The Plea of the Needy Servant
  2. v8-10: The Incomparable Nature of God
  3. v11-13: The Request for an Undivided Heart
  4. v14-17: A Cry for a Token of Good

Psalms chapter 86

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
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.
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
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.

Master the art of humble petition as David asks for a 'sign of favor' to silence those who hate the truth. Begin your study with psalms 86 summary.

Notice the emphasis on God being 'plenteous in mercy,' which provides the legal grounds for the psalmist's bold requests. The 'Word Secret' is Yachad, meaning 'to unite' or 'to join,' used here to ask God to stitch together the fragmented pieces of the human heart. Discover the riches with psalms 86 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.

Unlock the hidden psalms 86 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.

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2 min read (312 words)