Psalm 86:14-17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 86:15

Verse 15 15.And thou, O Lord! art God, merciful, ready to forgive. By immediately passing on to the celebration of these divine attributes, he would intimate, that we have adequate strength and protection against the audacity and rage of the wicked, in the divine goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. Perhaps, also, from his feeling that the wicked were scourges in the hand of God, he set before himself the divine goodness and mercy, to allay the excess of terror with which he might be seized; for... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 86:16

Verse 16 16.Look to me, and have pity upon me. Here the Psalmist makes a more distinct application to himself of what he had said concerning the divine mercy and goodness. As God is merciful, he assures himself that his welfare will be the object of the divine care. The second verb in the verse, חנן, chanan, which I have rendered have pity, signifies to gratify, to do one a pleasure; and is intended to convey the idea, that the succor which God affords to his people proceeds from his free... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 86:17

Verse 17 The last verse contains an additional confirmation of the statement, that he was in a manner forsaken of God. He would not have desired to be favored with some token of the divine favor, had he not been on all sides driven to despair, and had not the divine favor been hidden from him to try his patience. It was a proof of no ordinary steadfastness to maintain the conflict with this temptation, and to do this so successfully, as not to cease to descry light in the midst of darkness. He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 86:1-17

Metrically, it seems to divide itself, like Psalms 85:1-13 ; into three strophes, two shorter, and one longer, the former being of five verses each, and the latter of seven. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 86:11-17

The third strophe is almost equally divided between prayer and praise, Psalms 86:11 , Psalms 86:16 , and Psalms 86:17 being devoted to the one; and Psalms 86:12 , Psalms 86:13 , and Psalms 86:15 to the other. Psalms 86:14 is of the nature of a complaint. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 86:14

O God, the proud are risen against me (comp. Psalms 119:51 , Psalms 119:69 , Psalms 119:85 , Psalms 119:122 ; and also Psalms 54:3 ). And the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; rather, a crew of violent ones have sought after my soul, or "plotted against my life" (comp. Psalms 7:1 , Psalms 7:2 ; Psalms 17:13 ; Psalms 35:3 , Psalms 35:4 , etc.). And have not set thee before them; i.e. "have given no thought to God, or how he would act, whether... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 86:15

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion. The appeal is to God's own revelation of himself. He had declared that he was "merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" ( Exodus 34:6 , Exodus 34:7 ); he could not, therefore, desert the psalmist in his need. And gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth (comp. above, Psalms 86:5 ; and see also Numbers 14:18 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 86:15

God's graciousness. "Full of compassion, and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy and truth" The term "gracious," as applied to God, brings in ideas of tenderness, gentleness, considerateness, in dealing with those who are frail and weak. It is like "pitiful," but does not imply conditions of special poverty or distress. "Gracious" fits into God's ordinary ways with ordinary people. If we used the term of our fellow men, we should single out those who were sympathetic and sweet... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 86:16

Oh turn unto me, and have mercy upon me . God had for a time turned his face away from his servant; now he is entreated to turn it towards him, and, as a consequence, to "have mercy upon him" and deliver him. Give thy strength unto thy servant. Only in God's strength can we effectually contend against either our spiritual or our temporal foes. If, however, we ask him for strength, his strength will be "sufficient for us" ( 2 Corinthians 12:9 ). And save the son of thine handmaid. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 86:17

Show me a token for good; i.e. give me some sign—not necessarily a miraculous one—that thou art dealing with me, not for evil, but "for good" ( Jeremiah 24:6 ), and that thou wilt grant me that which I have requested of thee. That they which hate me may see it . A visible token is therefore requested, not a mere inward conviction or assurance (see 2 Kings 20:8 ; Isaiah 7:11 ). And be ashamed (comp. Psalms 6:10 ; Psalms 56:1-13 :17; Psalms 119:78 , etc.). Because thou,... read more

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