Be merciful unto me, O Lord ,.... In my distressed and miserable condition, being an object of mercy, pity, and compassion; this petition is used by Christ in Psalm 41:10 . for I cry unto thee daily ; or "all the day"; every day, and several times in a day, Psalm 55:17 constant and importunate prayer is the duty of saints, and available with God, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 . Christ was much in the exercise of it, Luke 6:12 . read more
Rejoice the soul of thy servant ,.... With the discoveries of love, of pardoning grace, and mercy, before made sad with sin or sufferings; and with the light of God's countenance, before troubled with the hidings of his face: this may be applied to Christ, in sorrowful circumstances, who was made full of joy with his Father's countenance, Matthew 26:37 . for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul : in prayer, as the Targum adds; and it denotes the devotion, fervency, heartiness, and... read more
Be merciful unto me - I have no merit; I plead none, but trust in thee alone. I cry unto thee daily - My state deeply affects me; and I incessantly cry for thy salvation. read more
Rejoice the soul of thy servant - I want spiritual blessings; I want such consolations as thou dost impart to them that love thee; I present that soul to thee which I wish thee to console. read more
Verse 3 3Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah! The Psalmist again betakes himself to the mercy of God. The word חנן, chanan, which I have rendered have mercy, is substantially the same as to gratify, to do a pleasure. It is as if he had said, I bring no merit of my own, but humbly pray for deliverance solely on the ground of thy mercy. When he speaks of crying daily, it is a proof of his hope and confidence, of which we have spoken a little before. By the word cry, as I have already had occasion... read more
Prayer, the predominant note of the entire psalm, holds almost exclusive possession of the first strophe, only passing into praise when the last verse is reached, where the petitioner reminds God of his loving kindness and readiness to forgive. read more
The psalmist's prayers and pleas. We do not know for certain the author, the date, or the circumstances of this psalm; nor for its ministry of help to us is it needful that we should. It is the fervent utterance of a devout and believing but distressed soul. Consider— I. THE PRAYERS . Even in these few verses we note: 1 . How numerous they are! "Bow down thine ear;" "Preserve my soul; Save me;" "Be merciful unto me;" "Rejoice the soul of thy servant." 2 . How... read more
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
Be merciful unto me, O Lord; for I cry unto thee daily; rather, all day long (Revised Version). read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 86:1-7
This psalm was published under the title of a prayer of David; not as if David sung all his prayers, but into some of his songs he inserted prayers; for a psalm will admit the expressions of any pious and devout affections. But it is observable how very plain the language of this psalm is, and how little there is in it of poetic flights or figures, in comparison with some other psalms; for the flourishes of wit are not the proper ornaments of prayer. Now here we may observe, I. The petitions... read more