Chapter 86
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
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.
5For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
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.
9All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
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.
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.
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, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
16O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
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.
“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”
Overview
Psalm 86 is a prayer of David — the only psalm in Book III attributed to him. He cries out from affliction, calling himself poor and needy, and asks God to preserve his soul, be merciful, and rejoice his soul. He affirms that the Lord is good, ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon Him. Among the gods there is none like the LORD. David asks God to teach him His way so he can walk in truth, and to unite his heart to fear God's name. He celebrates God's great mercy toward him and asks for a token for good.
Key Themes
A Poor and Needy Cry
David comes to God not with claims of strength or merit but as one who is poor and needy — modeling the humble dependence God honors.
God's Character as the Ground of Prayer
David's petitions are anchored in who God is — good, ready to forgive, plenteous in mercy, great in power — making theology the fuel of prayer.
An Undivided Heart
The prayer to 'unite my heart to fear thy name' reveals the struggle of a divided heart and the need for God to bring inner wholeness.
Study Questions
Why does David identify himself as 'poor and needy' (v. 1)? How does poverty of spirit relate to effective prayer?
What does it mean to ask God to 'unite my heart to fear thy name' (v. 11)?
How does David's understanding of God's character shape his prayers throughout this psalm?
What is the significance of David saying 'there is none like unto thee, O Lord' (v. 8) among the gods?
How can this psalm teach us to pray from theology rather than merely from emotion?
Connection to Christ
Jesus is the one who perfectly embodied humility before the Father, crying out in dependence and walking in undivided devotion. He taught His disciples to pray with the same spirit this psalm models. Christ is the demonstration of God's character — that the Lord is indeed good, ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon Him.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Psalms 86. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?