Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 86

Poor and needy. Our helplessness is the ground of our appeal to the great Helper (see Ps. 40:17; cf. Ps. 9:18; Luke 18:10–14; see on Matt. 5:3).

Holy. Heb. chasid (see Additional Note on Ps. 36). As a child may expect his parents to help him, so the psalmist has a right to expect God’s help. Trusteth in thee. Compare Ps. 34:22; 37:40; 57:1.

Rejoice. Or, “make glad.” The psalmist’s prayer goes beyond the cry for relief to a request for gladness of heart (see Ps. 16:11).

Plenteous in mercy. Compare Ex. 34:6, 7; Ps. 86:15. The psalmist bases his plea for help upon the essential attributes of God’s character.

Thou wilt answer. The psalmist is assured that God hears and graciously answers prayer.

Among the gods. Compare Ps. 89:6; 95:3. None like unto thee. See Ex. 15:11; cf. Isa. 40:18, 25. Like unto thy works. See Deut. 3:24. Since in His character and power God is not to be compared with false gods, the psalmist reasons that God is able to deliver him from his distress.

All nations. See Ps. 22:27; 66:4; 72:11, 17; 82:8; Isa. 66:18, 23. The verse goes beyond a merely personal hope to a recognition of a worldwide missionary movement. Glorify thy name. The heathen nations will leave their false gods and worship the true God.

Wondrous things. See Ps. 72:18; 77:13, 14; cf. Ps. 83:18. Thou art God alone. See Deut. 6:4; 32:39; cf. 2 Kings 19:15; Isa. 37:16; 1 Cor. 8:4.

Teach me. See Ps. 25:4; 27:11; 119:33. The way of the Lord cannot be known intuitively; man must be taught as he sits at the feet of God and learns the lessons life has to offer. In thy truth. Only when we are taught by God can we walk in His truth (see Ps. 26:3). Unite my heart. Compare Jer. 32:39; Deut. 6:5; 10:12; Matt. 6:21–23. The psalmist prays for unity of purpose. Let nothing interfere, he prays in effect, with that one supreme purpose (see Ps. 57:7). The phrase anticipates the words “with all my heart” of v. 12. A divided heart can never render acceptable service to God (see on Matt. 6:24).

Praise thee. See Ps. 9:1; 145:1, 2. My heart. See on v. 11.

Thy mercy. See Ps. 57:10; 103:11. Delivered. See Ps. 56:13; 116:8. My soul. “Me” (see on Ps. 16:10). Hell. Heb. she’ol (see on Prov. 15:11). In this hyperbole the psalmist expresses the horror, the gloom, of the condition from which God had delivered him (see Deut. 32:22).

The proud. Compare Ps. 54:3; Ps. 119:51, 69, 85, 122. Before them. These wicked men have no regard for God, and no respect for His presence in their lives (see Ps. 10:4).

Full of compassion. The psalmist appeals to God on the ground of God’s glorious character (see on v. 5). By the very nature of His character God cannot desert a soul in need. This address to God introduces the earnest prayer recorded in vs. 16, 17.

Turn. See Ps. 85:3, 4; cf. Ps. 25:16. Thy strength. Compare Ps. 71:16; 2 Cor. 12:9. The son of thine handmaid. The poet’s tender allusion to his mother (see Ps. 116:16; cf. 2 Tim. 1:5). Possibly there is in this verse a suggestion of the psalmist’s hope that God will remember and answer the prayers of a devout mother for her son.

A token. The psalmist prays for some evidence that God is dealing with him for his good, so that even his enemies will acknowledge that God is on his side. For good. Compare Neh. 5:19; 13:31; Jer. 21:10; 24:6; 44:27. Be ashamed. See Ps. 6:10; 119:78. If deliverance came, it would prove that God was on the psalmist’s side, and against his enemies. Comforted. The psalm closes on an intimate note of quiet satisfaction.