Passage
Psalm 86 (NIV)
1 Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.
3 Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.
14 The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life—
men without regard for you.
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Commentary & Questions
Read Psalm 86. What jumped out at you?
Read Psalm 86 again, and meditate on both the glory of and characteristics ascribed to the Lord God.
Read Psalm 86 again, and meditate on David’s heart as he wrote this. If David’s heart pleased the Lord, what does this say about how we should think or act towards God?
Read Psalm 86 again, and meditate on how God has manifested the things in this Psalm in your life. For example, how has He been merciful (verse 3), answered your calls for help (verse 7), and loving (verse 13)?
Finish in prayer, thanking your Father for his awesome characteristics, asking for a heart aware of these things, and praising Him for His faithfulness.
Devotional Author: Dan Moore