Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 86:1 and following. Indeed, in this psalm of David (the only one in this 3rd Book) he addresses the Lord in several ways: He is afflicted and poor; he is one of his saints; finally he is his servant. He claims it to ask for deliverance (verse 2), joy (verse 4), strength (verse 16). For this servant knows his Master; he knows that he is God, he alone (verse 10), that he is “good, quick to forgive… (verse 5), “merciful, giving grace, slow to anger, and great in goodness and truth” (verse 15; Jonah 4:1-4). It was in these terms that Jehovah once revealed Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:5-9).
But the psalmist feels all his weakness and inability to lead himself. “Teach me your way,” he asks; then, “Unite my heart to the fear of your name” (verse 11). “The heart-writing someone tends to be distracted by 1,000 objects, by 1,000 fleeting thoughts, so the psalmist asks the Lord to give it a single purpose. How much we need to have an entire heart focused on Christ. Therein lies the power… Our smallness has found in His greatness our place and our strength.” May this “prayer of David,” especially this verse 11, also be that of each of us! This psalm, in his mind, can easily be in the mouth of any saint on the day of his distress – and it seems to have been the outpouring of David’s soul. The phrase “I am one of your saints” in verse 2 is to be understood only as the habitual cry of a soul to God, the cry of a faithful person who is aware of being a pious man. Christ’s beloved servants in suffering desired a clear sign of His favor in the face of their enemies (v. 17; Acts 4:29–31). And afterwards a great fear took hold of all (Acts 5:11).
Aaron’s rod, with its buds, came out of the divine presence as a sign to silence the adversaries. In the same way, the resurrection is that glorious sign of God’s favor resting on Jesus, a sign that will confuse all those who resist him, and whose results will show that it is certainly “hard for them to bow against the stings”. The phrase “the son of your servant” (vs. 16 and Ps. 116:16) probably means: your property (as was once the child of a servant, someone born in the house). But this psalm can also be in the mouth of Israel of the last days, the Spirit of Christ guiding their hearts – as we see so often in this book. An unfaithful faction is indeed considered here; it seeks the life of the supplicant (v. 14); they are arrogant men who have not put God before them. The faithful seem to rely entirely on mercy, putting forward something of the name of the merciful God, as he showed himself to Moses when Israel brought its own destruction to Mount Sinai (v. 15; Exodus 34:6). And taking this attitude into their souls, they are led by the Spirit to anticipate glory with full assurance. They learn that God is both good and great (vs. 5:10).
Finally, this Psalm is the humble request, but the assured and trusting request of a soul who feels his piety towards the Lord and who looks to the results of the privilege she possesses of being in relationship with him. We always find the Lord since Ps. 84, based on those covenant relationships, in which the residue feels that he is, though still waiting, from the midst of distress, for the restoration of the blessings of the covenant in the land. The expression “holy” in verse 2 means pious (khesed and not kodesh). We find three requests in this Psalm. In verse 1 we read, “Lord! tilt your ear, answer me.” Then, in verse 6, we have a call to the merciful attention of the Lord, that he may listen to the prayer of the righteous and be attentive to the voice of his supplications; that is, the righteous expect the Lord to answer him. Finally, in verse 11 we have the third request: to be taught in the way of truth. Then the remnant recognizes the mercies of Jehovah in the terrible struggle he has gone through, but he still expects Jehovah to intervene on his behalf, so that those who hate him may be ashamed, because Jehovah will have helped and consoled him.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
On the day of my distress, I invoke you:
- Life of prayer, continual prayer
Ps 5:4 Eternal! in the morning you hear my voice; In the morning I turn to you, and I look. Ps 119:147 I preempt the dawn and cry out; I hope in your promises. 1 Thess 3:10 Night and day, we pray with extreme zeal to allow us to see you, and to complete what is missing from your faith. 1 Tim 5:5 The one who is truly widowed, and who has remained in isolation, puts her hope in God and perseveres night and day in supplications and prayers.
- God’s Goodness
Ps 25:8 The Lord is good and righteous: That is why He shows sinners the way. Ps 33:5 He loves righteousness and righteousness; The goodness of Jehovah fills the earth. Mt 19:17 He answered him: Why do you ask me about what is good? Only one is the right one. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments. Which? he said to her. Rom 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, patience, and long-suffering, not recognizing that God’s goodness drives you to repentance?
- Walk of believers, walk in truth
Ps 26:3 For your grace is before my eyes, and I walk in your truth. Ps 86:11 Teach me your ways, O Lord! I will walk in your faithfulness. Dispose my heart to the fear of your name. 2 Jn 4 I have been very pleased to find your children walking in the truth, according to the commandment we have received from the Father. 3 Jn 3 I was very pleased when brothers came and bore witness to the truth that is in you, to the way in which you walk in the truth.
- Divine signs
Gen 9:12 And God says: This is the sign of the covenant that I establish between me and you, and all the living beings who are with you, for generations forever: Ex 12:13 Blood will serve as a sign to you on the houses where you will be; I will see the blood, and I will pass over you, and there will be no wound that destroys you, when I strike the land of Egypt. Ex 13:16 It will be like a sign on your hand and like fronts between your eyes; for it is through His mighty hand that Jehovah has brought us out of Egypt. Mt 3:16 It will be like a sign on your hand and like fronts between your eyes; for it is through his mighty hand that the Lord has brought us out of Egypt.
From all of the above, we note how the state of the residue, like the story of Job, brings out the great conflict between Satan’s power and divine deliverance! But in this struggle, the sincere soul who is the subject of it, however low it may have been brought, recognizes that it is jehovah who is the source of all deliverance and blessing, though his feet have been close to slipping upon seeing the prosperity of the wicked (Ps 73:2-3). We do not have here a soul who complains or either bitterly; but a soul, still afflicted and poor, who has tasted the consolation that the goodness of the Lord makes us feel, a pious soul (verse 2). It is worth noting the difference between the names of Adonai and Jehovah; the latter, translated as Jehovah, is the name that God has taken in eternal fidelity in his covenant with Israel; while Adonai is the name of the One who has taken power and who is for us, the Lord. So, in fact, we recognize that Christ has this character towards us, – our Lord Jesus Christ; – it will be the same for the Jews, although they must recognize it only when they see it. This Adonai is Elohim. The death and power of man are before the thoughts of the faithful, but they are also helped by the consolation of a well-known Lord: deliverance is found, but it is not complete in blessing. In summary, this Psalm essentially presents to us the request that, in its piety, the remnant of Israel, returning to the land, addresses to the Lord; but in general, it can be said that it is the expression of feelings and a position into which Christ fully entered, although the Psalm is not directly applicable to him. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow ” Distress of the faithful before God’s wrath against sin (Ps 88).”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.