A prayer of David. 

 

This song is a prayer of David. This is the only song of David in Book III. The Levitical choir would sing this song at the Jewish festivals.

 

86:1 Listen O Lord! Answer me! For I am oppressed and needy. 

 

The Hebrew word for “Lord” is יְהוָ֣ה (Jehovah), meaning the covenant-keeping-promise-keeping-God. God made a promise to David.  David asked the covenant-keeping-promise-keeping-God to listen and answer to his prayer, because David was being oppressed. He was in need of divine assistance. Since David will rule over Israel during the Millennial Kingdom, then he has always been a target of demonic forces.

 

86:2 Protect me, for I am loyal! O my God, deliver your servant, who trusts in you! 

 

The Hebrew word for “God” is אֱלֹהַ֑י (elohi), meaning the Triune-Creator-God. David asked the Triune-Creator-God for divine protection from his enemies. David was being attacked because of his loyal love for God. David asked God to deliver him from this dangerous situation.

 

86:3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry out to you all day long! 

 

The Hebrew word for “Lord” is אֲדֹנָ֑י (adonai), which was a proper name for Lord. The very pious Jews would never even pronounce יְהוָ֣ה. Instead, they would verbally substitute אֲדֹנָ֑י (adonai). This practice caused the pronunciation of יְהוָ֣ה  to be lost. Most Jews pronounce  יְהוָ֣ה as Yahweh. The German Jews (who possessed better Hebrew scholarship) pronounced the name as Jehovah. The Hebrew name אֲדֹנָ֑י (adonai) will be used by David seven times in this song.

 

David asked אֲדֹנָ֑י (adonai) to have mercy on him. He continually prayed this same prayer all day long.

 

It is important to note that David was a different kind of king. Most kings of the satanic world system looked upon themselves as gods on earth, or at least as a divine representative of God on earth. David looked at himself as a sinner saved by God’s grace. David did not make decisions without prayer. He tried to please God, rather than himself. He wrote 73 psalms which glorified God. He had his moral lapses, but at least he repented of them. Other kings committed adultery and murder every day, but it did not prick their conscience at all. 

 

Unlike the other pagan kings, David was a man after God’s own heart. This meant that David pursued the mind of God. The mind of God can only be found through the deep study of Bible doctrine.

 

86:4 Make your servant glad, for to you, O Lord, I pray! 

 

David asked God to make him happy. Those with weak Bible doctrine will become depressed and take their depression to a psychologist. What believers need instead is stronger Bible doctrine. Then, they can pray to God and ask for happiness. One will not be happy in this life if they are not doing God’s will. It takes strong Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God to know the will of God. If a person is depressed, or if they do not know God’s will in their life, or if they do not know what their spiritual gifts are, then this is a sign of a lazy Christian who has not studied the entire Bible at a deep level.

 

86:5 Certainly O Lord, you are kind and forgiving, and show great faithfulness to all who cry out to you. 

 

God is kind and forgiving. He shows faithfulness to all who cry out to Him. David knew this by personal experience.

 

86:6 O Lord, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my plea for mercy! 

 

David asked God to hear his prayer and to pay attention to his plea for mercy.

 

86:7 In my time of trouble I cry out to you, for you will answer me. 

 

David expected God to answer him. This prayer was inspired by the Holy Spirit, because it was recorded in Scripture. This prayer is a good example on how one led by the Spirit should pray. The prayer should possess strong Bible doctrine, so that he knows when, how, and what to pray. God should be praised. The request should be made. The prayer should be continual. The prayer should be expected to be answered.

 

86:8 None can compare to you among the gods, O Lord! Your exploits are incomparable! 

 

All of the Gentile nations worshiped “gods” who were not gods. They were actually demons who were disguising themselves as gods. Israel was the only nation who was worshiping the one true God. God performed many miracles throughout the history of Israel to prove His existence to them. The other demons who disguised themselves as Gods were silent and inactive, but totally depraved and evil men still worshiped them. Gold became a valuable metal to the pagans, because it was soft and could easily be formed into an idol. Pagans would worship golden idols and hope to receive material blessings. God was invisible and would not allow any images to be made of Himself.

 

86:9 All the nations, whom you created, will come and worship you, O Lord. They will honor your name. 

 

“All” nations are not worshiping God and have never worshiped God. Left on their own accord, they will worship the Antichrist. After God opens the eyes of the nations, then they will worship God. This type of universal worship of the one true God will not happen until the Millennial kingdom.

 

86:10 For you are great and do amazing things. You alone are God. 

 

The God of Israel is the only true God. All other again gods are counterfeits. The counterfeit religions today are found in many of the cults and isms of the world. Any teaching that denies the deity of Christ and/or salvation by faith alone is heresy.

 

86:11 O Lord, teach me how you want me to live! Then I will obey your commands. Make me wholeheartedly committed to you! 

 

Here is a very interesting and mature statement of David. He asked God to teach him how to live in the satanic world system. He asked God to help him obey the commandments. The commandments are Bible doctrine. One cannot keep Bible doctrine unless they know Bible doctrine, Bible doctrine is found only in the entire counsel of the written Word of God.

 

Instruction on how to live in the satanic world system comes only through the written Scriptures. Charismatics add to the Scriptures. Liberals take away from the Scriptures. Bible doctrine must be mastered and applied or the believer will be deceived.

 

86:12 O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks with my whole heart! I will honor your name continually! 

 

The “whole heart” is the intellect. David will use his intellect to honor the name of God continually.

 

86:13 For you will extend your great loyal love to me, and will deliver my life from the depths of Sheol. 

 

David will die and go to the grave. His spirit and soul will live temporarily in Paradise (or Abraham’s bosom). He was delivered from paradise and brought up to heaven after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the Rapture, David’s physical body will be joined once again to his spirit and soul. This new physical body of David will be the glorified body which the Lord Jesus Christ possessed after His resurrection. During the Millennial Kingdom, David will co-reign with the Lord Jesus Christ over the land of Israel. Believers will co-reign with the Lord Jesus Christ over the Gentile cities. Believers will be running the Millennial Kingdom government.

 

86:14 O God, arrogant men attack me; a gang of ruthless men, who do not respect you, seek my life. 

 

Arrogant men are those who elevate their personal opinions above the Word of God. If possible, they would kill every believer on the planet. They cannot do so, because God has placed a shield around the believers. No one can touch a believer without God’s permission. God will not bring a believer home until the believer has fulfilled his task, or committed the sin unto death. If the believer commits the sin unto death, then he will not lose his eternal life, but he will lose rewards in heaven. God will give his task and his rewards to another believer who is more faithful to God. The only way to keep from the sin unto death is to master and apply Bible doctrine at the deepest level.

 

86:15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness.

 

God is compassionate and merciful. God is very patient. He does not desire for anyone to perish. However, He will not violate a man’s free will. He will allow everyone to make their own choice, but their totally depraved and evil nature always chooses the devil over the Lord. Therefore, God must choose some, or no one will be saved. God must call some to believer or all would be lost. Believers are saved 100% by the grace of God.

 

86:16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me! Give your servant your strength! Deliver your slave! 

 

David was a willing slave of God. He chose to serve God without pay, because he loved God. This kind of love for God comes from the study and application of Bible doctrine. It is good to become a willing slave of God. David asked God to turn towards him, show him mercy, give him strength, and deliver him from the enemy.

 

86:17 Show me evidence of your favor! Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed, for you, O Lord, will help me and comfort me.

 

David asked God to show him divine physical evidence of God’s favor upon him. This type of divine physical evidence would shame those who hate David. The people who hated David were those of the satanic world system. They wanted David dead and removed from power. David asked God to help him, so that he could be comforted.  

 

It is important to note that mature believers who study and apply sound Bible doctrine at the deepest level will be attacked by satanic forces, just as David was attacked. The only defense of the believer is mastery and application of Bible doctrine. Those with strong Bible doctrine will recognize the source of their trouble and pray. They will understand when to pray, how to pray, and what to pray. The prayer of one righteous man can save a nation. If America is to be saved, then God needs to raise up one righteous man to pray for revival.