A Prayer for Mercy and Help

86:1 Listen O Lord! Answer me! For I am oppressed and needy. 86:2 Protect me, for I am loyal! O my God, deliver your servant, who trusts in you! 86:3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry out to you all day long! 86:4 Make your servant glad, for to you, O Lord, I pray! 86:5 Certainly O Lord, you are kind and forgiving, and show great faithfulness to all who cry out to you. 86:6 O Lord, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my plea for mercy! 86:7 In my time of trouble I cry out to you, for you will answer me. 86:8 None can compare to you among the gods, O Lord! Your exploits are incomparable! 86:9 All the nations, whom you created, will come and worship you, O Lord. They will honor your name. 86:10 For you are great and do amazing things. You alone are God. 86:11 O Lord, teach me how you want me to live! Then I will obey your commands. Make me wholeheartedly committed to you! 86:12 O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks with my whole heart! I will honor your name continually! 86:13 For you will extend your great loyal love to me, and will deliver my life from the depths of Sheol. 86:14 O God, arrogant men attack me; a gang of ruthless men, who do not respect you, seek my life. 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness. 86:16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me! Give your servant your strength! Deliver your slave! 86:17 Show me evidence of your favor! Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed, for you, O Lord, will help me and comfort me. Psalm 87 Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 86 is a prayer from a needy and oppressed servant of the Lord. The psalmist asks God to hear, protect, and deliver him. He rests his hope on God’s good character. The Lord is kind, merciful, faithful, and unlike any other god. The psalm also asks to be taught God’s way, so that rescue and obedience will go together.

The psalm begins with urgent pleas. The psalmist is troubled, needy, and under attack. He asks the Lord to listen, answer, protect, and show mercy. He says he belongs to the Lord and trusts him. This is not proud self-praise. It is a covenant plea from someone depending on God.

The psalm then turns to praise. The Lord is good. He shows great steadfast love to all who call on him. No one can compare with him. He alone is God. The nations that God created will one day come and worship him. So even in distress, the psalmist lifts his eyes to the Lord’s greatness over all peoples.

Next, the psalmist asks to be taught God’s way. He wants to obey. He also asks for an undivided heart. He promises to give thanks in faith before the answer is seen. Faith looks ahead to God’s help.

The psalm ends by returning to the danger. Arrogant and ruthless men are trying to kill him. He does not trust in his own strength. He appeals again to God’s mercy, compassion, patience, love, and faithfulness. He asks for visible help and comfort. If God delivers him, his enemies will be ashamed because God’s favor will be clear.

• God hears the prayer of the needy and oppressed.
• The psalmist asks on the basis of trust and covenant devotion, not moral perfection.
• The Lord is kind, merciful, and faithful.
• God alone is God; no rival can compare with him.
• The nations belong to the Creator and are meant to worship him.
• Prayer should include both rescue and instruction.
• A faithful heart wants to obey God’s commands.
• God’s deliverance can publicly show his favor and comfort his servant.

• Listen, O Lord.
• Answer me.
• Protect me.
• Have mercy on me.
• Hear my prayer.
• Pay attention to my plea for mercy.
• Teach me how you want me to live.
• Then I will obey your commands.
• Make me wholeheartedly committed to you.
• I will give you thanks with my whole heart.
• I will honor your name continually.
• The Lord is kind and merciful.
• He shows great faithfulness to all who cry out to him.
• God will extend his loyal love and deliver from the depths of Sheol.
• The Lord will help and comfort his servant.
• Those who hate him will see it and be ashamed.

Psalm 86 shows that the Lord is the one true God, and that all nations are made to worship him. His mercy, faithfulness, and power are the ground of prayer. The psalm also fits the larger biblical pattern of the faithful sufferer who seeks help, asks for instruction, and waits for God’s vindication.

When you are in trouble, pray honestly. Tell God your need. Ask for mercy, protection, and help. Ground your prayers in who God is, not in your own worth. Also ask God to teach you his way, so that rescue and obedience stay together. Give thanks in faith, because God is faithful even before the answer is seen.

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