Years
ago in my study Bible, I wrote over the top of Psalm 86, “This is a Psalm I
need to memorize”. From the inscription we learn that this is a Prayer of
David. In the midst of a group of four Psalms attributed to the Sons of Korah
you find this one Psalm by David, the only Davidic psalm in the entire third
book of Psalms. When David wrote it, he was facing some formidable enemies whom
we cannot identify (v. 14), at a time when he was "poor and needy"
(v. 1) and calling for God's help.
The
remarkable thing about Psalm 86 is that it is a mosaic of quotations from other
parts of the Old Testament, especially Psalms 25-28, 40 and 54-57, and Exodus
34. Since David wrote these psalms, he had every right to quote from them and
adapt them to his present needs. At a time of danger, when he felt inadequate
to face the battle, David found three encouragements in the Lord, and so may we
today.
First,
in verses 1-7, David acknowledges that God's Covenant is secure. Psalm 86 has
many connections with the Davidic covenant that Nathan the prophet shared with
David in 2 Samuel 7. We get the
impression that David had the covenant text before him and selected verses from
his Psalm to parallel what the Lord had said to him, and he had said to the
Lord. In 2 Samuel 7, David is called "servant" (7:5, 8, 19, 20, 25,
26, 29; 86:2, 4, 16), and both texts refer to the great things God had done (2
Sam. 7:21; Ps. 86:10).
The
uniqueness of the Lord is another shared theme (2 Sam. 7:22; Psalm 86:8) as
well as Jehovah's supremacy over all the supposed "gods" (2 Sam. 7:23;
Ps. 86:8). In both chapters, God's great name is magnified (2 Sam. 7:26; Ps. 86:9,
11, 12). In Psalm 86, David used three basic names for God: Jehovah (vv. 1, 6,
11, 17), Adonai (vv. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15), and Elohim (vv. 2, 10,12, 14). On
the basis of God's covenant promises, David could "argue" with the
Lord and plead his case.
In
verses 1-7, the word "for" usually signals one of David's persuasive
reasons why the Lord should help him. In verse 5, he changes from "for
I" to "for you" (vv. 5, 7, 10), climaxing in verse 10 with "For
you are great." There are at least fourteen personal requests in this
Psalm, which suggests to us that effective praying is specific. David "cried
or called to the Lord and the Lord answered” (vv. 3, 5, 7).
As
we have already noted, there is no doubt that this psalm parallels numerous
other Scriptures. The psalm either quotes from, or is quoted in Psalms 6:10;
9:1; 17:6; 22:27; 25:1,4,6,20; 26:3; 27:11; 28:2; 31:2; 40:3,17; 50:15,23;
54:3; 55:1-2; 56:13; 57:1-2; 72:18; 77:2,13; 83:18; 90:5; 116:6. The same
applies to Exodus 15:11 and 34:6. This is a prayer Psalm that is saturated with
other Scriptures, and it teaches us the value of bringing to God His own words
in prayer. That is why I love praying the Psalms back to God for my own
personal needs.
Astonishingly,
too, David refers to himself no less than thirty-five times. The occurrences of
the personal pronouns in the first person are all supplications. This prayer
Psalm alternates between supplication and statements about God. It reveals a
soul in prayer and teaches us how to speak to God. It has to do supremely with
our own private devotions, to those times when all else is excluded and we are
alone with God.
At
least 10 times in this Psalm, David pleads “O Lord” or “O God”. This is a Psalm
we might need to pray today and often in the days to come!
God
bless!
