Prayer for God s Grace

Transcription

1 1 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller Questions by John C. Sewell Prayer for God s Grace Psalm 86:1-17

2 2 Text: Psalm 86:1-17, Prayer for God s Grace Commentary by Clyde M. Miller 1. Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. 3. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. 4. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 5. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. 6. Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. 7. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. 8. Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. 9. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. 10. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. 11. Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 12. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. 14. The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life men without regard for you.

3 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. 16. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. 17. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me. NIV Introduction: I. For the phrase of David in the title, see Psalm 19. A. The word for prayer in the title and in 86:6, and the root of the word for supplication in 86:6, set the tone for this psalm. 1. Psalm 86:6, Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. NIV II. The psalmist is pleading with God to manifest to him His grace, mercy, and love (86:15). A. Psalm 86:15, But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. NIV III. The root of the word for supplication (plural in Hebrew) is the same as that for the noun grace and for the adjective gracious (86:15), and the imperative verb, favor me (86:16). A. Psalm 86:15, But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. NIV

4 4 B. Psalm 86:16, Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. NIV C. For a discussion on the significance of the meaning of these words, see the excursus at the end of the psalm. IV. Another interesting feature of this psalm contributes to our understanding of its tenor. A. In referring to deity, besides the word Aelohim ( mighty ones, 86:2,8,10,12,14,15), there is an interchange between LORD (Yahweh, 86:1,7, 11,17) and Lord (Aadonay 86:3,4,5,8,9,12,15). 1. Psalm 86:2, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.. The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life men without regard for you. But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. NIV 2. Psalm 86:1, 7, 11, 17, Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my ene-

5 5 mies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me. NIV 3. Psalm 86:3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15, Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. NIV 4. The last word is used in the Old Testament of earthly masters and of God, and Aelohim in Psalm 86:8 refers to pagan gods. 5. The word Aadonay connotes mastery and suggests the subordination required of the subjects of the master. 6. The mighty God, Aelohim, is known to Israel as the eternal covenanter and He is merciful, gracious, and abounding in steadfast love; therefore, submission is a joyous rather than grievous experience. 7. This thought permeates the entire psalm. V. Since parts of this psalm are reflected in many other psalms, some have conjectured that it was composed to serve as a liturgy to be used by individual worshipers in times of distress.

6 6 A. It is not likely that David, who possessed creative talent as a poet (cf. 1 Sam. 16:18-23; 2 Sam. 1:17-27; 3:33-34; 2 Sam. 22; 23:1-7), would have borrowed so freely from others Samuel 16:18-23, One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him." Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him." Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. NIV 2. 2 Samuel 1:17-27, David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, and ordered that the men of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar): "Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! "Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. "O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul no longer rubbed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty,

7 7 the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied. "Saul and Jonathan in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. "O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. "How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. "How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!" NIV 3. 2 Samuel 3:33, 34, The king sang this lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died as the lawless die? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before wicked men." And all the people wept over him again. NIV 4. 2 Samuel 22:1-51, David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior from violent men you save me. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. "The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. "The earth trembled

8 8 and quaked, the foundations of the heavens shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his canopy around him the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot arrows and scattered the enemies, bolts of lightning and routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of breath from his nostrils. "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring

9 9 them low. You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. "I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them to the LORD, but he did not answer. I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets. "You have delivered me from the attacks of my people; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know are subject to me, and foreigners come cringing to me; as soon as they hear me, they obey me. They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your

10 10 name. He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever." NIV 5. 2 Samuel 23:1-7, These are the last words of David: "The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs: "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.' "Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire? But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie." NIV B. However, it may be that others have borrowed from this psalm. Commentary: Supplication of One who Trusts Psalm 86:1-7, Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord,

11 11 abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. NIV Psalm 86:1, Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. NIV I. Word Explanations: A. Hear, O LORD suggests God's condescending nature which causes him to listen to and answer man's pleadings. B. Poor and needy are terms often used of individual Israelites or the nation Israel to describe the humble petitioner who is in urgent need of divine assistance. C. For the word poor, see Psalms. 9:18; 10:2,9; 12:5; 14:6; 34:6; etc. 1. Psalm 9:18, But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish. NIV 2. Psalm 10:2, 9, In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. NIV 3. Psalm 12:5, "Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will protect them from those who malign them." NIV 4. Psalm 14:6, You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. NIV

12 Psalm 34:6, This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. NIV D. For the word needy, see Pss. 49:2; 69:33; 107:41; 109:31; 112:9; 132:15; 140: Psalm 49:2, both low and high, rich and poor alike: NIV 2. Psalm 69:33, The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. NIV 3. Psalm 107:41, But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. NIV 4. Psalm 109:31, For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him. NIV 5. Psalm 112:9, He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. NIV 6. Psalm 132:15, I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food. NIV 7. Psalm 140:12, I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. NIV E. These words, as used in the psalms, do not necessarily reveal the financial circumstances of those described, but often indicate recognition of the need for help from God.

13 13 II. In Psalm 86, the need is to be delivered from insolent enemies (see Psalm 86:14-17), and possibly also to be forgiven (Psalm 86:5). A. Psalm 86:14-17, The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life men without regard for you. But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me. NIV B. Psalm 86:5, You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. NIV Psalm 86:2, Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. NIV I. Word Explanations: A. Guard my life suggests that his life is in danger (cf. Psalm 86:14). 1. Psalm 86:14, The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life men without regard for you. NIV B. For I am godly (chasid, loyal, RSV) appeals to God's faithfulness, as Psalm 86:1 appeals to His compassion. (Cf. holy, KJV, which better translates qadosh.) 1. Psalm 86:1, Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. NIV

14 14 C. Constant and true (NEB) is an effort to include the two principal meanings of the word. 1. The psalmist, however, does not trust in himself, but in God (86:2b). a. Psalm 86:2, Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. NIV D. On servant, see the comment on 86: Psalm 86:16, Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. NIV E. You are my God may be syntactically connected to 86:2 or 86:3. 1. Psalm 86:2, 3, Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. NIV F. God, Aelohim, here suggests a mighty protector and deliverer. Psalm 86:3, Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. NIV I. Be gracious (cf. 86:16, Hebrew) is better than be merciful (KJV).

15 15 A. Psalm 86:16, Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. NIV II. The motives for expecting an answer from God are threefold in these opening verses, as indicated by the repetition of the word for (86:1b, 3b, 4b, 7b, 13a 17c). A. Psalm 86:1, 3, 4, 7, 13, 17, Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me. NIV III. His undone condition (86:1b) and his incessant prayer (86:3b, 4b,c) are linked with God's forgiving love (86:5) and constancy (86:7). A. Psalm 86:1, 3, 4, 5, 7, Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. NIV Psalm 86:4, Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. NIV I. Expectancy of a favorable answer anticipates the gladness that will accompany deliverance.

16 16 II. Soul (cf. heart, NEB) frequently indicates the person himself (cf. Gen. 46:15; Ex. 1:5; Ezek. 18:4; KJV). A. Genesis 46:15, These were the sons Leah bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, besides his daughter Dinah. These sons and daughters of his were thirty-three in all. NIV B. Exodus 1:5, The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. NIV C. Ezekiel 18:4, For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. NIV Psalm 86:5, You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. NIV I. Good here means kind (NEB), one who is forgiving. Psalm 86:6, Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. NIV I. Verse 6 employs synonymous parallelism. II. For the discussion of the key terms, see the excursus below on prayer. Psalm 86:7, In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. NIV I. The present tense is best here, for the recurring experience of the psalmist is indicated by the Hebrew frequentative imperfects.

17 17 God's Sovereignty, the Basis of Trust Psalm 86:8-13, Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. NIV Psalm 86:8-10, Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. NIV I. See the excursus on Canaanite Baalism and universalism at the end of Psalm 77. II. Deeds (86:8) likely refers to God's acts of creation, and marvelous deeds (86:10) probably refers to miraculous deeds done within Israel's history. A. Psalm 86:8, 10, Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. NIV III. The word gods (86:8) here likely refers to supposed gods. A. Psalm 86:8, Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. NIV

18 18 IV. The concept of all nations coming to worship God (86:9) likely indicates a devotional desire rather than being prophetic. A. Psalm 86:9, All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. NIV Psalm 86:11, Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. NIV I. Pious Israelites recognized the need for divine help in doing right (cf. Psalm 119:33-40), and human responsibility in utilizing the strength given (cf. Psalm 119:57-64). A. Psalm 119:33-40, Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness. NIV B. Psalm 119:57-64, You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. I am a friend to all who fear you, to all

19 19 who follow your precepts. The earth is filled with your love, O LORD; teach me your decrees. NIV II. Walk suggests a bent of mind and way of life. A. Truth and faithfulness (86:15) translate the same Hebrew word. 1. Psalm 86:15, But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. NIV B. Truth is the abstract teaching that results from God s faithfulness. 1. The context must determine the way the word is translated. III. Give me an undivided heart indicates the recognition of the need for singularity of purpose in following God. Psalm 86:12, I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. NIV I. With all my heart indicates the undivided and sincere thanksgiving which will characterize one whose heart has been united by God. Psalm 86:13, For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. NIV I. God's past preservation of the psalmist's life provides the basis for his present trust and hope (cf. 86:5,7).

20 20 A. Psalm 86:5, 7, You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. NIV B. Or the perfect Hebrew tenses could be understood as indicating the certainty of future deliverance. 1. In this case, the psalmist might be referring to resurrection (cf. Psalm 49:15; 73:23,24), although this is highly unlikely. a. Psalm 49:15, But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah NIV b. Psalm 73:23, 24, Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. NIV II. The depths of the grave may indicate the place of deepest darkness in the nether world (88:6), or it could refer simply to death, or to the grave as being under the earth as the heights of the heavens are above it. A. Psalm 88:6, You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. NIV B. The lowest hell (KJV) is misleading to the modern reader because of the common tendency to attach the concept of conscious punishment to the word hell. 1. The word did not necessarily carry that connotation in 1611, when the KJV was first published.

21 There is no idea of conscious punishment in the Hebrew word sh e A)l. Lamentation over Present Troubles Psalm 86:14-17, The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life men without regard for you. But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me. NIV Psalm 86:14, The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life men without regard for you. NIV I. Such narrative statements in prayer are not meant to inform the omniscient God, but are part of a suppliant's plea as he presents his case before God's tribunal for adjudication. A. See the excursus on prayer below. II. Ruthless men are those devoid of human compassion. III. Since compassion is a characteristic of God to be imitated by men, the last line of the verse, men without regard for you, can be understood as a summary of the two preceding lines. Psalm 86:15, But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. NIV I. In contrast to these godless persons, God is compassionate, gracious, and abounding in love and faithfulness.

22 22 A. This is an exact quote from Ex. 34:6b. 1. Exodus 34:6, And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, NIV B. See the excursus below on God's grace, mercy, and love. Psalm 86:16, Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. NIV I. Have mercy on me is better translated be gracious to me (86:3a, 16a). A. Psalm 86:3, 16, Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. NIV II. Save the son of your maidservant could be a reflection on the godliness of the psalmist's mother (cf. Psalm 116:16), but it is more likely a humble way of stating his complete and loving submission as comparable to that of a slave born in the house of his master. A. Psalm 116:16, O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains. Psalm 86:17, Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me. NIV

23 23 I. Sign can indicate any visible manifestation, not necessarily a miracle. II. Goodness can mean kindness (NEB; cf. 86:5). A. Psalm 86:5, You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. NIV III. The psalmist is asking for evidence of God's kindness in granting his petition. A. His enemies will be put to shame when they see his deliverance. EXCURSUSES: Prayer in the Old Testament The three most common Old Testament words for prayer or praying carry the idea of pleading. The imperative mode so often attached to these words needs to be understood in the sense of an inferior pleading with a superior on his own behalf or that of another. Figurative expressions often used in prayer, such as I lift up my soul, or I lift up my hands, also connote sincere pleading. Also, the word cry, used as a noun or as a verb, and the word call suggest pleading for an answer. Pleading is always the tone of Hebrew prayers. Thanksgiving and praise are not generally stated to be prayer in the Old Testament. God's Grace, Mercy, and Love The word chesedh is used 245 times in the Old Testament, and about 130 of those in the Psalms. It is generally translated steadfast love (RSV), lovingkindness (NASB), or mercy (KJV). It may be used in conjunction with faithfulness or steadfastness, with one or both

24 24 of the words righteousness and justice, with mercies, rachamim, with grace, or with love,aahab. Chesedh means basically loyalty and love manifested to God's covenant people. It often goes beyond strict covenant obligation to express God's free, unfettered grace and mercy. Sometimes chesedh refers to the loyalty that Israel should manifest toward God and His ways as subject to their covenant obligations. Rachamim, mercies, and its cognates express God's compassion on the undeserving. The word is used in all its forms at least sixty-five times in the Old Testament, usually of God's mercy. The varied forms of the word for grace are also used over sixty-five times in the Old Testament. The adjective gracious, and the verb be gracious indicate God's generosity and kindness in doing for man what he cannot do for himself. The unfortunate rendering be merciful (obscures the distinction between grace and mercy. As the sins of Israel required, God bestowed more and more grace (Romans 5:20-21, The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. NIV) until Christ came as the full expression of God's grace (John 1:16-17, From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. NIV). Application: I. Even the prayers of the psalmists usually include praise and glory offered to the God who answers prayer. A. Such should characterize our prayers as well.

25 25 II. Psalm 86 recognizes the uniqueness of God among the many false gods. A. When we pray we should dismiss from our minds our love of anything that fails to exalt God as the supreme creator and sustainer of the universe, and our loving heavenly father. B. This effort will help us to make our petitions with reverence and patience, recognizing the infinite will of God in contradistinction to our finiteness.

26 26 Questions Psalm 86:1-17 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1., O, and me, for am and. my, for am to. You are my ; your who in you. Have on, O, for I to you. Bring to your, for to you, O, up my. 2. For what did the psalmist pray in verses 1-4? 3. You are and, O Lord, in to all who on you. my, O ; to my for. In the of my will to you, for you me. 4. What words describe God in verses 5-7?

27 For what does the psalmist pray in verses 5-7? 6. How sure is the psalmist that his prayers will be answered? 7. Among the there is like you, O ; no can with. All the you have made will and before you, O ; they will bring to your. For you are and do ; you are. 8. List and describe some of God s wondrous deeds? 9. your, O LORD, and will in your

28 28 ; give an, that may your. will you, O my, with all my ; will your. For is your toward ; you have from the of the. 10. For what did the psalmist ask in verses 11-13? When granted, what was the psalmist s promised response? 11. The are, O ; a of my -- without for you. But you, O, are a and, to, in and. to and have on ; your to your and the of your. a of your, that my may see it and be put to, for you, O, have me and. 12. Tell of times when God has delivered you from death. See verse 13.

29 Why is Lord printed in upper case letters in verses 1, 6, 11 and 17 and in lower case letters otherwise in Psalm 86? 14. What type people were the psalmist s enemies? What was their attitude toward God? 15. How does the psalmist describe God? 16. For what did the psalmist pray in verses 16, 17a?

30 Why did the psalmist pray for these things? 18. List all the synonyms, synonymous expressions in Psalm 86. See the text and the commentary on this lesson. 19. What does the Bible say about David s being an accomplished poet? 20. Explain the use of the words poor and needy as used in the psalter. 21. Explain the use and meaning of the word heart as used in the Old Testament.

31 recognized the for in and in utilizing the. 23. Define undivided heart. How important is an undivided heart in pleasing God? 24. Speak to God s grace, mercy and love as revealed in the Old Testament and especially in Psalms. 25. What have you learned from your study of Psalm 86 that will help you serve God better?