DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 86 David asks the LORD for help in distressing circumstances and offers various expressions of confidence for a favorable answer as the Psalm develops. Some commentators doubt that David is the author of the Psalm, in spite of the heading which calls him the author. The heading material may or may not be part of the original; but it is ancient; and, where it can be tested, it proves to be consistently reliable. Also, the circumstances fit either the persecutions of Saul or of Absalom. The time of Saul seems most probable to me since David expresses confidence in his integrity and innocence, which was particularly true in his early days, during Saul's persecution. In the time of Absalom, David has a tendency to acknowledge his sins more often and to plead for mercy because Absalom's persecution came after his sin with Bathsheba. Today's painting is of Hebe, handmaiden to the gods. I am using it in reference to verse 16 below, which refers to David's mother as God's "handmaid." There is also a comparison to be made between David's mother and Mary, the mother of Jesus, who also referred to herself as the "handmaiden of the Lord" (Luke 1:38, 48). Both women were the mother of God's anointed.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 1 Samuel 19-31. 2 Samuel 15-18. Psalm 85. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 86 - #1. Psalm 86 - #2. Psalm 86 - #3. Psalm 86 - #4. ]

     David asks the LORD to bow down his ear and hear him because he is poor and needy. He asks God to preserve his soul because he is holy, because God is his God, and because he trusts in God. He asks for mercy as he cries daily to God. He asks that he may rejoice. He acknowledges that God is good, ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy. So he asks God to hear his prayer and expresses confidence that God will answer him in his day of trouble (1-7). He acknowledges that none of the pagan gods are like him; and his works are incomparable. He prophesies that all nations will come and worship before him because of his greatness and his wondrous works. So he asks God to teach him his way that he may walk in God's way and have a heart that fears his name. Then he will praise God with all of his heart and glorify his name forevermore because God's mercy is great toward him; and God delivers him from the lowest hell (8-13). He directs God's attention to the proud and the violent who have risen against him and have turned away from God. By contrast, he notes that God is filled with compassion, graciousness, longsuffering, mercy, and truth. He therefore asks God to turn to him, to have mercy on him, to give him strength, and to deliver him. He asks God for a token for good that those who hate him may see in and be ashamed, because God has helped him and comforted him. (14-17).

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
² Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
³ Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
⁴ Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
⁵ For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
⁶ Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

⁸ Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
⁹ All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
¹⁰ For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
¹¹ Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
¹² I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
¹³ For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

¹⁴ O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
¹⁵ But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
¹⁶ O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
¹⁷ Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]