Psalm 86

1 Ein Gebet Davids. HERR, neige deine Ohren und erhöre mich; denn ich bin elend und arm.

2 Bewahre meine Seele; denn ich bin heilig. Hilf du, mein Gott, deinem Knechte, der sich verläßt auf dich.

3 HERR, sei mir gnädig; denn ich rufe täglich zu dir!

4 Erfreue die Seele deines Knechtes; denn nach dir, HERR, verlangt mich.

5 Denn du, HERR, bist gut und gnädig, von großer Güte allen, die dich anrufen.

6 Vernimm, HERR, mein Gebet und merke auf die Stimme meines Flehens.

7 In der Not rufe ich dich an; du wollest mich erhören.

8 HERR, dir ist keiner gleich unter den Göttern, und ist niemand, der tun kann wie du.

9 Alle Heiden die du gemacht hast, werden kommen und vor dir anbeten, HERR, und deinen Namen ehren,

10 daß du so groß bist und Wunder tust und allein Gott bist.

11 Weise mir, HERR, deinen Weg, daß ich wandle in deiner Wahrheit; erhalte mein Herz bei dem einen, daß ich deinen Namen fürchte.

12 Ich danke dir, HERR, mein Gott, von ganzem Herzen und ehre deinen Namen ewiglich.

13 Denn deine Güte ist groß über mich; du hast meine Seele errettet aus der tiefen Hölle.

14 Gott, es setzen sich die Stolzen wider mich, und der Haufe der Gewalttätigen steht mir nach meiner Seele, und haben dich nicht vor Augen.

15 Du aber, HERR, Gott, bist barmherzig und gnädig, geduldig und von großer Güte und Treue.

16 Wende dich zu mir, sei mir gnädig; stärke deinen Knecht mit deiner Kraft und hilf dem Sohn deiner Magd!

17 Tu ein Zeichen an mir, daß mir's wohl gehe, daß es sehen, die mich hassen, und sich schämen müssen, daß du mir beistehst, HERR, und tröstest mich.

Psalm 86 Commentary

Chapter 86

The psalmist pleads his earnestness, and the mercy of God, as reasons why his prayer should be heard. (1-7) He renews his requests for help and comfort. (8-17)

Verses 1-7 Our poverty and wretchedness, when felt, powerfully plead in our behalf at the throne of grace. The best self-preservation is to commit ourselves to God's keeping. I am one whom thou favourest, hast set apart for thyself, and made partaker of sanctifying grace. It is a great encouragement to prayer, to feel that we have received the converting grace of God, have learned to trust in him, and to be his servants. We may expect comfort from God, when we keep up our communion with God. God's goodness appears in two things, in giving and forgiving. Whatever others do, let us call upon God, and commit our case to him; we shall not seek in vain.

Verses 8-17 Our God alone possesses almighty power and infinite love. Christ is the way and the truth. And the believing soul will be more desirous to be taught the way and the truth. And the believing soul will be more desirous to be taught the way and the truth of God, in order to walk therein, than to be delivered out of earthly distress. Those who set not the Lord before them, seek after believers' souls; but the compassion, mercy, and truth of God, will be their refuge and consolation. And those whose parents were the servants of the Lord, may urge this as a plea why he should hear and help them. In considering David's experience, and that of the believer, we must not lose sight of Him, who though he was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 86

\\<>\\. The title is the same with the Seventeenth Psalm, and the subject of it is much alike: it was written by David, when in distress, and his life was sought after; very likely when he was persecuted by Saul, and fled from him; so Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi: and as he was a type of Christ in his afflictions, as well as in his exalted state, it may not be unfitly applied to him, as it is by some interpreters. The Syriac inscription of it is, ``for David, when he built an house for the Lord; and a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles; and moreover, a prayer of a peculiar righteous man.'' Theodoret thinks it predicts the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians, and Hezekiah's hope in God.