Psalms 86:1-10

A prayer of David.

1 Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;
3 have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

Psalms 86:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Psalms 17:6
  • 2. Psalms 25:2; Psalms 31:14
  • 3. Psalms 4:1; S Psalms 9:13; Psalms 57:1
  • 4. Psalms 88:9
  • 5. Psalms 25:1; Psalms 46:5; Psalms 143:8
  • 6. Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 103:8; Psalms 145:8; Joel 2:13; John 4:2
  • 7. Psalms 5:2; Psalms 17:1
  • 8. Psalms 27:5; S Psalms 50:15; Psalms 94:13; Habakkuk 3:16
  • 9. Job 22:27; Psalms 4:3; Psalms 80:18; Psalms 91:15; Isaiah 30:19; Isaiah 58:9; Isaiah 65:24; Zechariah 13:9
  • 10. Psalms 3:4
  • 11. S Exodus 8:10; S Job 21:22
  • 12. Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 3:24; Psalms 89:6; S Psalms 18:31
  • 13. S Psalms 65:2
  • 14. Psalms 66:4; Isaiah 19:21; Isaiah 27:13; Isaiah 49:7; Zechariah 8:20-22; Zechariah 14:16; Revelation 15:4
  • 15. Isaiah 43:7; Isaiah 44:23
  • 16. S 2 Samuel 7:22; S Psalms 48:1
  • 17. S Exodus 3:20; S Psalms 71:17; Psalms 72:18
  • 18. S Deuteronomy 6:4; S Isaiah 43:10; Mark 12:29; 1 Corinthians 8:4
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