Psalms 86 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” — John 5:39
1Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
PSALM 86
Psa 86:1-17. This is a prayer in which the writer, with deep emotion, mingles petitions and praises, now urgent for help, and now elated with hope, in view of former mercies. The occurrence of many terms and phrases peculiar to David's Psalms clearly intimates its authorship.
1-2. poor and needy--a suffering child of God, as in Psa 10:12, 17; 18:27.
I am holy--or, "godly," as in Psa 4:3; 85:8.
2Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
3Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
4Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
4. lift up my soul--with strong desire (Psa 25:1).
5For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
5-7. unto all ... that call upon thee--or, "worship Thee" (Psa 50:15; 91:15) however undeserving (Ex 34:6; Le 11:9-13).
6Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
7In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
8Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
8. neither ... works--literally, "nothing like thy works," the "gods" have none at all.
★9All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
9-10. The pious Jews believed that God's common relation to all would be ultimately acknowledged by all men (Psa 45:12-16; 47:9).
10For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
11Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
11. Teach--Show, point out.
the way--of Providence.
walk in thy truth--according to its declarations.
unite my heart--fix all my affections (Psa 12:2; Jas 4:8).
to fear thy name--(compare Psa 86:12) to honor Thy perfections.
12I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
13For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
13-14. The reason: God had delivered him from death and the power of insolent, violent, and godless persecutors (Psa 54:3; Eze 8:12).
14O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
15But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
15. Contrasts God with his enemies (compare Psa 86:5).
16O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
16. son ... handmaid--homeborn servant (compare Lu 15:17).
17Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
17. Show me--literally, "Make with me a token," by Thy providential care. Thus in and by his prosperity his enemies would be confounded.
BIBLE