Psalms
Chapter 86
Listen, Lord, Answer Me
Listen, O Lord, and answer me, for I am afflicted and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am God-fearing; save your servant who trusts in you.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all day.
Bring joy to the soul of your servant; for you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
You are good and forgiving, O Lord, caring for those who call on you.
Listen, O Lord, to my prayer, hear the voice of my pleading.
I call on you in the time of my trouble, for you will answer me.
None is like you, O Lord, among the gods; your works are beyond compare.
All the nations you have made will come; they will worship before you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name.
For you are great, and wonderful are your deeds; you alone, are God.
Teach me, O Lord, how to walk in your truth, that my heart may fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God; I will glorify your name forever,
for great has been your love for me; you have saved me from the grave.
O God, the insolent have risen against me; a band of cut-throats, evildoers who do not hold you in reverence.
But you, O Lord God, are merciful, slow to anger, loving and faithful.
Turn to me, take pity on me; give your strength to your servant, and save the child of your handmaid.
Give me a sign of your grace, that my foes may see, to their disgrace, that you, O Lord, are my help and comfort.
Commentaries
86
This is a gentle psalm with a muted tone, without cries for help or loud shouts of anguish. The psalmist is making a sincere and genuine appeal to God to answer his prayer. There are always enemies, but God is not asked to destroy them (a refreshing change!). He is only asked to ‘turn and take pity’ on the persecuted. The first seven verses form the perfect prayer. God could hardly resist it. The psalmist keeps asking and is rightly confident that such a God could never stop giving. He also appeals to God’s virtues, as shown in verse 16. It is a very simple, homely psalm.
Whenever we face moments of anguish, whatever causes them, it’s good for us to confide our burden in someone else, especially in God, whose presence in this psalm is comforting. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:24, ‘Whatever you ask for in prayer, full of faith, you will receive.’ We have this promise from Jesus himself. So, full of faith, let us pray to God for whatever we need, confident that it will be given.