Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Psalms Ch.86 / 150 Ch.s
PS:86
* The psalmist pleads his earnestness, and the mercy of God, as
reasons why his prayer should be heard. (1-7) He renews his
requests for help and comfort. (8-17)
#1-7 Our poverty and wretchedness, when felt, powerfully plead
in our behalf at the throne of grace. The best self-preservation
is to commit ourselves to God's keeping. I am one whom thou
favourest, hast set apart for thyself, and made partaker of
sanctifying grace. It is a great encouragement to prayer, to
feel that we have received the converting grace of God, have
learned to trust in him, and to be his servants. We may expect
comfort from God, when we keep up our communion with God. God's
goodness appears in two things, in giving and forgiving.
Whatever others do, let us call upon God, and commit our case to
him; we shall not seek in vain.
#8-17 Our God alone possesses almighty power and infinite love.
Christ is the way and the truth. And the believing soul will be
more desirous to be taught the way and the truth. And the
believing soul will be more desirous to be taught the way and
the truth of God, in order to walk therein, than to be delivered
out of earthly distress. Those who set not the Lord before them,
seek after believers' souls; but the compassion, mercy, and
truth of God, will be their refuge and consolation. And those
whose parents were the servants of the Lord, may urge this as a
plea why he should hear and help them. In considering David's
experience, and that of the believer, we must not lose sight of
Him, who though he was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we
through his poverty might be rich.