Psalm 86:16

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 86:16

O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me ,.... For it seems the Lord had turned away from him, and had hid his face, and withheld the manifestation of his grace and mercy from him, and had not yielded him the help and assistance he expected; and therefore entreats that he would turn again to him, and show him his face and favour, and be merciful to him: give thy strength unto thy servant ; spiritual strength, strength in his soul, to exercise grace, perform duty, bear the cross, and stand... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 86:16

O turn unto me - He represents himself as following after God; but he cannot overtake him; and then he plays that he would turn and meet him through pity; or give him strength that he might be able to hold on his race. Give thy strength unto thy servant - The Vulgate renders, Daniel imperium tuum puero tuo, "Give thy empire to thy child." The old Psalter. Gyf empyre to thi barne, and make safe the son of thi hand mayden. Thi barne - thy tender child. Anglo-Saxon; thy knave; signifying... 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

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 86:16

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 86:16

O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me - Look upon me; as if God were now turned away, and were unmindful of his danger, his needs, and his pleading. The expression is equivalent to those in which he prays that God would incline his ear to him. See Psalms 86:1, Psalms 86:6, and the notes at Psalms 5:1.Give thy strength unto thy servant - Give such strength as proceeds from thee, and such as will accomplish what thou alone canst effect. Enable me to act as if clothed with divine power. The... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 86:16-17

Psalms 86:16-17. O turn unto me As to one thou lovest, and hast a kind and tender concern for. And have mercy upon me Pity and graciously pardon me, though I have highly offended thee. Give thy strength unto thy servant To assist, support, and deliver me; and save the son of thy handmaid Me, who, by thy gracious providence, was born, not of heathen, but of Israelitish parents, and therefore was in covenant with thee from my birth, and whose mother was thy faithful servant, and did... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 86:1-17

Psalms 85-86 The steadfast love of GodIsrael had again suffered God’s punishment in being defeated by its enemies. The psalmist reminds God that when this happened in the past, God forgave his people and poured out his blessings on them afresh (85:1-3). Would he not, therefore, in the present crisis do the same once more (4-7)? The psalmist thinks longingly of the spiritual paradise that results when people are living in a right relation with their God. Steadfast love flows down from God and is... read more

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