For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
Peter Morris | Jun 5, 2016
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. –Psalm 86:5-7
In his book A Praying Life Paul Miller offers this great truth: “Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart.” As we approach the words of Psalm 86 this week, we can modify Miller’s quote to apply to the circumstances of the psalmist facing severe trials, “learning to pray doesn’t offer us a more peaceful life, it offers us a more peaceful heart.” The psalmist comes with childlike dependence on the God who is able. He doesn’t seek a trouble-free life, he seeks the peace that comes from being a child of the One who is working all things for good (Romans 8:28).
This week’s verses will be a particular encouragement to those facing difficulties in their lives right now. But, because trials are to be expected in the Christian life (2 Timothy 3:12), these verses are of great value for all of us. As many of you have likely experienced, even if we are not in danger and difficulty now, storing up God’s Word in our heart will prepare us for the battles and challenges that will certainly come.
It is often in the valley of the shadow of death that it is very easy to fear evil, and to doubt that God is, in fact, with us (Psalm 23). But this prayer looks beyond the dire circumstances the psalmist is facing and appeals to the compassion and faithfulness of his sovereign God. Just as the Lord Jesus assured his disciples they would certainly encounter trouble in this world, all believers can “take heart” because our Lord and God has overcome the world (John 16:33).
The confidence of this prayer in verses 5-7 is based on four affirmations about who God is – He is good, He is forgiving, He abounds in steadfast love, and He answers those who call. When things look bad, when our weaknesses are exposed, when we feel alone, when we cry out, we have a God who is absolutely dependable. We see that in the verses that follow. “There is none like [Him]” (verse 8), all nations shall “come and worship” before Him (verse 9), for He is great and does wondrous things (verse 10).
Whether the day of our trouble is yesterday, today, or tomorrow, we have a God who has overcome the world. We have a God who is sovereignly loving. And we can trust in Him.
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Children Desiring God (CDG) publishes Fighter Verses and offers products to support you in your Bible memorization efforts. CDG also publishes God-centered Sunday School curriculum for children and youth, parenting booklets to equip parents to spiritually shepherd their children, and the Making Him Known series of books for family devotions.
Jonathan Parnell | Jun 7, 2011
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David alludes to the Exodus 34:6 in the confession that God is “good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 86:5). This takes us back to the holy event when God “drove the stake in the ground” about his identity. The LORD proclaimed his name. Essential to who he is—and unique from every competitor— is […]
Luis Mendez | Jun 6, 2011
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There is a reason why, as believers, we must always be motivated to come to God in our need. The psalmist says it in these words: ” For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving ” (Psalm 86:5). Because of the goodness of God, we are confident that we will always receive the best from […]
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