Psalms 86

Hear, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Both traditions hear: poverty and need are a plea before the listening Lord.

The plain cry stands. Bring need without polishing merit first.

Calvin: nothing more suitable to God's nature than to succor the afflicted; the more destitute of human aid, the more inclined is God to help. The Spirit dictates this prayer for the poor.

Poor and needy incline the divine ear. Despair need not win; affliction is itself argument for mercy.

Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you. Wesley: Holy—sincerely devoted to thy service. Devotion and trust mark the servant God saves.

Godly here is sincere devotion, not self-salvation. Trust names the God who is "my God."

Calvin: meek/clemency and trust—not meriting obligation, but showing enemies' cruelty against a merciful man; trust is the mother of true religion. Integrity without lifting eyes to God is vanity.

Preserve the devoted servant who trusts. Conscience may approve; still commit hope to God.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day. Common reading: all-day cry asks grace, not wage.

Perseverance in crying is itself piety. Keep the day-long petition alive.

Calvin: mercy is to gratify freely—I bring no merit of my own. Daily crying proves hope; cry denotes earnestness of soul.

Grace sought all day. Untiring prayer is not presumption; it is faith's labor.

Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul. Joy asked for the servant whose soul is lifted to the Lord.

Gladness is gift answering a lifted soul. Lift first; then ask to rejoice.

Calvin: the end of mercy sought is removal of sorrow; lifting the soul is the mark of right prayer—no hypocrisy in the cry.

He asks God to gladden the soul he lifts up. True prayer rises Godward before it asks for cheer.

For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you. Goodness, pardon, and hesed toward callers.

"all those who call" is the open door of the text. Goodness and forgiveness invite every sincere cry.

Calvin: God is bountiful and inclined to compassion; pardoning mercy modifies his goodness. Plenteous mercy is yet restricted to the faithful who call; those who obstinately chafe perish. "All" encourages every rank to betake themselves to his mercy.

Good, forgiving, abounding in love to callers. The invitation is made in earnest; the restriction is against proud refusal, not against humble need.

Give ear, O LORD, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my plea for grace. Either reading: prayer and plea for grace seek a listening ear.

Ask again after grounding in God's character (v. 5). Grace is the plea's content.

Calvin: earnest repetition shows ordinary grief and extreme anxiety; those who pray once and quit when not instantly answered betray cold hearts. Importunity is a sweet savor.

Give ear; listen to the plea. Repeat the request into God's bosom without shame.

In the day of my trouble I will call on you, for you will answer me. Trouble-day calling rests on God's answering.

Call because he answers—confidence, not experiment. Trouble is the day of prayer.

Calvin: particular application of the truth that God is merciful to all who call—he will hear when I cry in trouble.

In the day of trouble he calls, and God answers. Apply general mercy to this day's need.

There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, nor any deeds like yours. Incomparability of the LORD and his works.

False gods fail the works-test. Worship the One whose deeds prove deity.

Calvin: heathen fabrications derided—no characteristic of deity in their works. Speculations that skip God's works trifle; works bear witness of him.

None like you; no works like yours. Glory exclusive to the true God.

All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name. Maker of nations; nations shall worship and glorify.

Creation grounds the summons to worship. Expect Gentile glory to his name.

Calvin: celebrating godliness among the heathen has an eye to Christ's kingdom; Gentiles created by God, so their enlightenment need not seem strange.

Nations made shall worship. Gospel horizon softens the announcement of Gentile inclusion.

For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone. Greatness, wonders, exclusive deity.

Lesson: wonders teach monotheism. Leave rival "gods" without share in his title.

Calvin: greatness of works brings nations to worship; Godhead's glory belongs exclusively to the one true God.

God is great, does wonders, and alone is God. Contemplation of works births true piety.

Teach me your way, LORD. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name. Wesley: Truth—way of thy precepts; My heart—knit my whole heart to thyself. Both sides agree: taught way, walk in truth, united heart fearing the Name.

Ask to be taught and knit. Whole-heart fear answers divided loyalties.

Calvin: unite my heart: the heart is scattered until God gathers it; free will is destitute of both light and uprightness; Spirit's light and gift of uprightness oppose our blindness and fluctuating affections.

Teach; walk; unite the heart. Progress in religion deepens sense of need for inward light.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forever. Whole-heart thanks; forever glory to the Name.

Thanksgiving matches the united heart of v. 11. Forever is the horizon of praise.

Calvin: engages to celebrate praises not only with mouth but sincere affection, with steadfast perseverance.

He vows praise with his whole heart forever. Gratitude is vowed, not merely felt once.

For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol. Wesley: Hell—extreme dangers and miseries. Both traditions see: great hesed; deliverance from Sheol's depths.

Lowest dangers magnify mercy. Read Sheol as extremity of misery, not a speculative map.

Calvin: singular proof of mercy—thrust down into lowest depths, requiring God's hand stretched out wonderfully. In Christ a still deeper abyss is escaped.

Great love; delivered from Sheol's depths. Prolonged life was David's praise; gospel deliverance demands more.

O God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, and they don’t hold regard for you before them. Both note: proud/ruthless assault; no fear of God before them.

Name the insolence honestly. Godlessness of foes explains their cruelty.

Calvin: proud and strong rush to destroy; no regard to God means extreme excess of cruelty—lusts dare anything without fear of judgment.

Insolent band; life sought; God not set before them. Seek remedy in divine mercy next.

But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth. Exodus 34:6 attributes answer the proud.

Turn from foes to the Name. Mercy, grace, slowness to anger, hesed and truth are the shield.

Calvin: from Exod 34:6—merciful, ready to forgive, long-suffering, abundant in mercy and truth. God by nature gracious; severity compelled by obstinate wickedness. Truth joined to mercy because we distrust promises.

Merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Nature of God allays terror under scourges.

Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your servant.

Apply the attributes of v. 15 to this servant. Strength given is grace's muscle.

Calvin: apply mercy to himself; proceeds from free goodness. Servant and son of handmaid urge long ancestral grace—born a household servant—not boasting of services.

Turn; be gracious; give strength; save. Destitution of own strength confesses need.

Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, LORD, have helped me, and comforted me. Shared close: token of favor; haters shamed by help and comfort.

Ask a visible good for God's glory before scoffers. Help and comfort are the LORD's signature.

Calvin: desire for a token implies feeling forsaken; steadfastness descries light in darkness. Enemies mocked trust; shame them by God's succor.

Sign of favor; haters ashamed; helped and comforted. Faith asks a token without despising the hidden God.