Psalm 86 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Psalm 86 Short Summary:

Psalm 86 was written by David, and it is a straightforward plea for God’s help in a day of trouble. David asked for God’s help, mercy, grace, and encouragement to get him through a time of oppression brought on by insolent and godless men.

Psalm 86 Summary

AUTHOR:

• Psalm 86 is a psalm of David.

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:

• No Known New Testament References.

THEMES:

• A plea for God’s help in a day of trouble.

• God, the Lord of Lords, can deliver anyone from their day of trouble.

DEFINITIONS:

• Sheol (86:13) - The place of the dead, the grave.

• Insolent (86:14) - Being contemptuous, rude, arrogant, and lacking respect.

OUTLINE:

• A PRAYER FOR GOD’S HELP (86:1-17):

  • Psalm 86 is another Psalm written by David, and it returns to some similar themes we’ve seen in David’s previous psalms.

  • David was crying out to the Lord for help with a tough situation. We don’t know all the details about his situation, but its clear he was relying on the Lord to get him through.

  • He asked God to listen to his prayer, preserve his life, give him grace, teach him His ways, and gladden his soul.

  • David knew the God of Israel could get him out of His “day of trouble” because Israel’s God was superior to any of the foreign gods worshipped by other nations.

  • David was once again struggling with enemies. Insolent and godless men had risen up to oppose him.

  • In contrast to them, God was gracious, merciful, and slow to anger, full of steady love, and faithfulness.

  • David asked for God’s strength, and he asked the Lord to show him a sign.

  • This sign would signal the Lord’s support for David and would put David’s enemies to shame.

APPLICATION:

• God doesn’t get tired hearing your repetitive prayers, as long as they are prayed from a faithful heart.

• I don’t have an exact count, but David has dedicated at least 2 dozen psalms to asking God for help with his enemies.

• God didn’t get tired of hearing David or else He wouldn’t have included these in the Bible.

• There may be prayers that you have to pray repeatedly, maybe you need help with a sin, maybe a family member has a chronic illness, maybe your church has a persistent problem, maybe you’re praying for direction but haven’t found it.  

• God wants to hear those requests. He isn’t going to put you on mute because He’s tired of listening to the same things.

• So, don’t grow discouraged thinking you’re annoying God. Repetitive prayers prayed from the right heart are a mark of someone who looks to God daily and leans on Him constantly for help with life’s toughest challenges.