August 30, 2024
Undivided Hearts
Psalm 86
Drew Wylie
Big Book Idea
Thinking and feeling God's way.
Key Verse | Psalm 86:11-12
Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
Psalm 86
Great Is Your Steadfast Love
A Prayer of David.
1
Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
4
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
7
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you 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 worship 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 LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear 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, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men 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,
and save the son of your maidservant.
17
Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Table of Contents
Introduction to The Psalms
Timeline
Author and Date
Individual psalms come from diverse periods of Israel’s history, but at every stage they served as the songbook of God’s people. David wrote about half of the Psalms. His role as king was more than that of a ruler. He was to represent and even embody the people, and their well-being was tied to his faithfulness. David, then, writes as a representative, and the readers must discern whether the emphasis of a psalm is more on his role as ruler or more on his role as ideal Israelite, in which he is an example for all. The historical occasions mentioned in the psalm titles help the reader see how faith applies to real-life situations.
Key Themes
The Psalter is fundamentally the hymnbook of God’s people. It takes the basic themes of OT theology and turns them into song:
- Monotheism. The one God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time. Everyone must know and love this God, whose purity, power, wisdom, faithfulness, and unceasing love are breathtakingly beautiful.
- Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
- Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant. This covenant expressed God’s intention to save his people, and through them to bring light to the world.
- Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles. Each member of God’s people is responsible to believe God’s promises and to grow in obeying his commands. Those who do this enjoy the full benefits of God’s love and find delight in knowing him. The well-being of God’s people as a whole affects the well-being of each member. Each one shares the joys and sorrows of the others. When believers suffer, they should not seek revenge but should pray. They can be confident that God will make all things right in his own time.
- Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord. The personal faithfulness of God’s people contributes to his ultimate purpose. The Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, will lead his people in the great task of bringing light to the Gentiles.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms can be identified according to some basic categories:
Laments, which lay a troubled situation before the Lord, asking him for help. There are community (Psalm 12) and individual (Psalm 13) laments. This category is the largest by far, including up to a third of all Psalms.
Hymns of praise, which call God’s people to admire his great attributes and deeds. Examples include Psalms 8; 93; and 145.
Hymns of thanksgiving. As with laments, there are community (Psalm 9) and individual (Psalm 30) thanksgiving psalms.
Hymns celebrating God’s law (Psalm 119).
Wisdom psalms (Psalms 1; 37), which reflect themes from the Wisdom Books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon).
Songs of confidence, which enable worshipers to deepen their trust in God amid difficult circumstances (Psalm 23).
Royal psalms, which present the Davidic monarchy as the vehicle of blessing for God’s people. Some of these are prayers (Psalm 20), some are thanksgivings (Psalm 21). All relate to the Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, either by setting a pattern (Psalms 20–21) or by portraying the king’s reign in such a way that only the Messiah can completely fulfill it (Psalms 2; 72), or by focusing on the future (Psalm 110).
Historical psalms, which take lessons from the history of God’s dealings with his people (Psalm 78).
Prophetic hymns, which echo the Prophets, calling people to covenant faithfulness (Psalm 81).
Structure
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
Fact: What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God?
What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God? The Psalms were the songbook of the people of God when they gathered for worship.
Fact: What is a psalm of lament?
What is a psalm of lament? The main purpose of a psalm of lament is to tell the Lord about a difficult situation, to ask him for his help, and to praise him for helping. Some laments are community, congregational psalms. Others are individual, personal laments. One third of all the Psalms are psalms of lament.
Fact: What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel?
What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel? The “enemies” mentioned in the Psalms (e.g., 18:17) were people hostile to the faith of God’s people. Sometimes they expressed their hatred by physically attacking the people of Israel, while other times they merely rejoiced when Israel faced misfortunes.
Fact: Selah
What does Selah mean? Although the word Selah is found 39 times in the book of Psalms, its exact meaning is uncertain. Most scholars believe it is a musical term or a term to be used by a worship leader, possibly to mark a pause.
Fact: Snares
Snares (38:12) were traps used to catch birds and animals. Some snares used ropes or nets that would be triggered as soon as the bait was touched. Pits disguised with sticks and leaves were also used as snares. In the Psalms, snares serve as symbols of danger or death at the hands of the wicked.
Fact: A helpful guide
A helpful guide. The writers of the Psalms understood the importance of constant communication with God. They knew that God would hear their prayers, and they trusted him to act on their behalf. Believers today can benefit greatly by patterning their prayers after specific psalms.
Structure of Psalms
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
OT Testimony that All Are under Sin (3:9)
| Romans 3 | OT Reference |
|---|---|
| Sinful Condition | |
| v. 10, none is righteous | Ps. 14:3/53:3; Eccles. 7:20 |
| v. 11a, no one understands | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 11b, no one seeks for God | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one | Ps. 14:3/53:3 |
| Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to tongue to lips) | |
| v. 13a, b, their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive | Ps. 5:10, Septuagint (English, 5:9) |
| v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips | Ps. 140:3 |
| v. 14, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness | Ps. 10:7 |
| Sinful Action | |
| v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood | Prov. 1:16/Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery | Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known | Isa. 59:8 |
| Summary Statement | |
| v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes | Ps. 36:1 |
Ps. 86:1–7 The beginning of the psalm is a general call for help, without specifying the nature of the trouble. The person praying offers reasons that God should answer (see for in vv. 2–5). The first reason is the genuineness of his faith (v. 2); second is the earnestness with which he prays, relying on the Lord, not other gods (vv. 3–4); and third is the crucial confession of God’s benevolent character, as revealed in the Pentateuch (v. 5).
Ps. 86:8–10 The psalm moves from there is none like you who is worthy of worship among the gods (that is, the angels and other heavenly beings), to you alone are God. This is why all the nations you have made shall come and worship before you. All human beings were made to know and love the one true God. God called Abraham so that his family would be the vehicle of bringing this knowledge to the rest of mankind (Gen. 12:3).
Ps. 86:11 Teach me your way. See 25:12; 27:11 (and note on 25:4–5). The Bible regularly pictures the moral course of one’s life as a “way” or path, and one’s conduct as a “walk” or journey.
Psalm Ps. 86. This is an individual lament in a situation in which “a band of insolent men seek my life” (v. 14). The psalm confesses that the Lord is “good and forgiving” (v. 5), acknowledging that the singer’s own sins may have contributed to his enemies’ plans. The psalmist explicitly grounds his request in Ex. 34:6, a fundamental confessional statement of the OT (Ps. 86:15; see vv. 5, 13). This is the only psalm of David in Book 3 of the Psalms.
Ps. 86:14–17 The last section of the psalm explains the source of the trouble: insolent men and a band of ruthless men. These people do not set you before them (that is, they have no respect for God). Therefore it is not surprising that they seek the faithful one’s life. But the faithful have not sinned, so they have no reason to worry that God will abandon them to enemies as a punishment. God is merciful and gracious, and therefore his faithful ones can trust him to forgive and to guard. The singer is bold and finishes by repeating his request.
S3:171 Psalm 86
Listen NowDive Deeper | Psalm 86
Psalm 86 is a lament in which King David expresses his distress and overcomes that distress with praise and worship. David begins his plea by recognizing his sinful and dependent state before God (Psalm 86:1). He did not see God as unreachable but as a God who listens and answers the prayers of His people (Proverbs 15:29).
In Psalm 86:8-10, David emphasizes that God's works are mighty and wondrous. He knows that one day, all the nations will worship God and acknowledge His glory and power. There is a shift in verse 11 as David reflects on the greatness of God and realizes that he needs to learn from God. David's great need for God's intervention revealed to David his greatest need, which was for God to teach him.
It is almost as if, after reflecting on the character of God, he says, "Don't give me my way, God, teach me your way." David knew that in order to walk in God's truth he needed a united heart, one that was fully devoted to doing the will of God. David recognized that he could not properly praise God with all his heart without the help of God to unite his heart.
Psalm 86:14-17, in many ways, mirror verses 1-7. We see that while David is crying out for help, he is confident in God's ability to save him. David is also hopeful that God will be praised, as others see God's protection of His servant.
The Lord has used Psalm 86 to teach me the right heart posture for my prayers and petitions before Him. Often, my chief concern in prayer is not for a united heart, but rather for my own well-being. Instead of asking God only to fix the situation, we should ask Him to teach us His ways so that we may humbly submit to the counsel of the Lord.
Let us join our brother David and confidently approach the throne of grace, recognizing that we have peace with God through the death and resurrection of our great King, Mediator, Friend, and God, the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).
This month's memory verse
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
– Joshua 1:9
Discussion Questions
1. In prayer, do you find yourself asking God to teach you His ways or just asking for a quick fix? Are your prayers genuine and honest before the Lord? Does He get the raw and real version of you or just something you put together to try to make your requests more presentable? (Isaiah 65:24)
2. Do you have an undivided heart? What are some of the little "g" gods in your life (people, places, or things that you turn to in times of trouble, stress, or struggle)? (1 John 2:15-17)
3. How can you develop true joy and thankfulness in the midst of trials? Are you supposed to fake it when you don't feel it? (Philippians 4:10-13)
4. How does your view of God compare to David's view in Psalm 86:5, 15? How would believing or reminding yourself of this biblical view change your prayer life?
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