Psalms 86:1

PSALM 86

A PSALM OF SUPPLICATION AND TRUST

"This is the only Psalm of David in the Third Book of the Psalter."[1] Of course, Kidner here was following the superscription which thus assigns it. Jones also accepted this, stating that, "There is no sufficient grounds for disputing David's authorship of it."[2] Rawlinson likewise affirmed that, "The Psalm contains nothing, either in matter or style, to make the ascription unlikely."[3]

This being true, why then, do most modern commentators reject the Davidic authorship of this Psalm? Delitzsch declared that, "It can be called `A Psalm of David' as having grown out of Davidic and other model passages."[4] He then went on to point out at least 30 allusions and/or quotations from other Biblical passages, saying that, "Almost everything is an echo of the language of other Psalms or of the Law,"[5] McCaw referred to the psalm as "A Mosaic."[6] We agree with Miller's comment that, "It may be that others have borrowed from this Psalm."[7] Nothing in our own studies has convinced us that modern scholars are actually competent to decide such questions upon the basis of the limited information available to them. In the very nature of the problem, they have to do a lot of "guessing"; and the guesses of the ancient authors of the superscription are just as good as the "guesses" men offer so generously today.

Psalms 86:1-5

GOD'S GOODNESS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO SEEK HIM

"Bow down thine ear, O Jehovah, and answer me;

For I am poor and needy.

Preserve my soul; for I am godly:

O thou my God save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord;

For unto thee do I cry all the day long.

Rejoice the soul of thy servant;

For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive,

And abundant in lovingkindness unto all them that call upon thee."

An unusual feature of this psalm is that, "Each petition is accompanied by a reason why the petition should be granted."[8] Note the reasons given in Psalms 86:1, "I am poor and needy"; and in Psalms 86:2, "for I am godly." etc.

"I am poor and needy" (Psalms 86:1). "These words do not necessarily reveal the financial circumstances of the psalmist; they indicate the need of help from God, in this case help because of the arrogant and violent men of (Psalms 86:14-17)."[9]

"For I am godly" (Psalms 86:2). We cannot allow these words in the mouth of David in the sense of their ordinary meaning. What is meant is that he was loyal to God,[10] that "I am devoted to you and trust you,."[11] or simply that he belonged to the covenant people of Israel.

"Unto thee do I cry ... I lift up my soul" (Psalms 86:3-4). These are "reasons why" the psalmist believes God should hear his petition.

"Thou, Lord, art good ... ready to forgive ... abundant in lovingkindness" (Psalms 86:5). The wonderful goodness, mercy, lovingkindness, and readiness of God to forgive the penitent - all of these are abundant encouragements indeed for men to seek God in prayer. With such a God, ready and willing to help us, who should neglect to pray?