Psalm 86:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 86:8-17

David is here going on in his prayer. I. He gives glory to God; for we ought in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory, to him, with the most humble and reverent adorations. 1. As a being of unparalleled perfection, such a one that there is none like him nor any to be compared with him, Ps. 86:8. Among the gods, the false gods, whom the heathens worshipped, the angels, the kings of the earth, among them all, there is none like unto thee, O Lord! none so wise, so mighty,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 86:17

Show me a token for good ,.... Not only one by which he might know that his sins were pardoned, and his person accepted with God, and that he should be saved; but one visible to others, even to his enemies, by which they might know that God was on his side, and would verily do him good: Kimchi interprets it of the kingdom; and his being raised to the throne of Israel was a token of the Lord's goodness to him, and showed that he had a delight in him, and meant to do him good: that they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 86:17

Show me a token for good - אוה עמי עשה aseh immi oth "Make with me a sign." Fix the honourabie mark of thy name upon me, that I may be known to be thy servant. There seems to be an allusion here to the marking of a slave, to ascertain whose property he was. The Anglo-Saxon, "do with me a token in good.' Old Psalter: Do with me signe in gude. From tacn we have our word token, which signifies a sign, mark, or remembrancer of something beyond itself; a pledge that something, then... 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 86:17

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 86:17

Tokens for good. We remark upon the prayer contained in this verse— I. THAT SUCH PRAYER MAY BE AN IMPROPER ONE . Our Lord said to the people of his day, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." And how many today are like these people! Now, such request for tokens is wrong: 1 . When we presume to select tokens for ourselves. God may allow this, as he did to Gideon in connection with the fleece of wool; but it is very improper for us to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 86:17

The cheer of God's tokens. It is a subject of inquiry that we find God sometimes granting, and sometimes refusing to grant, signs and tokens. The reason of his various dealing appears to be this—he is willing to help weak faith ; he is unwilling to give opportunities to unbelief. These points may be illustrated from Old and New Testament narrative; e.g. to Gideon God granted the sign or token of the "fleece," because Gideon wanted to believe, but needed help to believing. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 86:17

Shew me a token for good ... - Hebrew, “Make me a sign for good;” that is, Do that for me in my trouble which will be an evidence that thou dost favor me, and wilt save me. Let there be such a manifest interposition in my behalf that others may see it, and may be convinced that thou art God, and that thou art the Protector and Friend of those who put their trust in thee. We need not suppose that the psalmist refers here to a miracle in his behalf. Any interposition which would save him from the... read more

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