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Psalm 86

Supplication for Help against Enemies

A Prayer of David.

1

Incline your ear, O L ord, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.

2

Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;

save your servant who trusts in you.

You are my God; 3be gracious to me, O Lord,

for to you do I cry all day long.

4

Gladden the soul of your servant,

for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

5

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,

abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.

6

Give ear, O L ord, to my prayer;

listen to my cry of supplication.

7

In the day of my trouble I call on you,

for you will answer me.

 

8

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,

nor are there any works like yours.

9

All the nations you have made shall come

and bow down before you, O Lord,

and shall glorify your name.

10

For you are great and do wondrous things;

you alone are God.

11

Teach me your way, O L ord,

that I may walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart to revere your name.

12

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

and I will glorify your name forever.

13

For great is your steadfast love toward me;

you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

 

14

O God, the insolent rise up against me;

a band of ruffians seeks my life,

and they do not set you before them.

15

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

16

Turn to me and be gracious to me;

give your strength to your servant;

save the child of your serving girl.

17

Show me a sign of your favor,

so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,

because you, L ord, have helped me and comforted me.


The last verse contains an additional confirmation of the statement, that he was in a manner forsaken of God. He would not have desired to be favored with some token of the divine favor, had he not been on all sides driven to despair, and had not the divine favor been hidden from him to try his patience. It was a proof of no ordinary steadfastness to maintain the conflict with this temptation, and to do this so successfully, as not to cease to descry light in the midst of darkness. He desires that his enemies may be put to shame, because they assailed his simplicity with mockery and scoffing, as if he had acted a foolish part by trusting in God. The miserable and distressing condition in which the Church was placed after the Babylonish captivity, might be apt to sink the minds of the godly into despondency; and, accordingly, the Holy Spirit here promises her restoration in a wonderful and incredible manner, so that nothing would be more desirable than to be reckoned among the number of her members.


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