Read & explore together
Tried but Trusting
Psalm 86 is a prayer that speaks honestly about trouble while holding firmly to who the Lord is. It moves between requests for help, reasons for trust, and a desire to live rightly before God.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this psalm, the speaker asks Yahweh to hear, answer, preserve, save, teach, and show mercy. The prayer describes personal need, confidence that God answers, praise for God’s unmatched greatness, and danger from violent people, all within the language of worship and dependence.
Psalms 86:1–17Main takeaway
This psalm teaches that in trouble, a person may ask boldly for help while trusting God’s mercy, greatness, and truth.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A needy servant calls for mercyThe psalm opens with direct requests: “Hear”, “answer”, “preserve”, “save”, and “be merciful”.
Explanation
The psalm opens with direct requests: “Hear”, “answer”, “preserve”, “save”, and “be merciful”. The speaker says he is “poor and needy” and calls himself God’s servant who trusts in him. This is not a casual prayer. It is continual, urgent, and shaped by dependence on the Lord.
02God’s character is the reason for confidenceThe prayer gives reasons for asking. The Lord is “good”, “ready to forgive”, and “abundant in loving kindness” to those who call on him.
Explanation
The prayer gives reasons for asking. The Lord is “good”, “ready to forgive”, and “abundant in loving kindness” to those who call on him. Because of that, the speaker expects an answer in trouble. Trust here rests not in personal strength, but in who the Lord is.
03The Lord is unmatched and worthy of worshipThe psalm then widens from one person’s trouble to God’s greatness. No one is like the Lord, and no deeds compare with his deeds.
Explanation
The psalm then widens from one person’s trouble to God’s greatness. No one is like the Lord, and no deeds compare with his deeds. The nations he has made will worship and glorify his name. Since he alone is God and does wondrous things, he is worthy of praise.
04Teach me, rescue me, and show your goodnessThe speaker asks not only for rescue but for a changed life: “Teach me your way” and make my heart “undivided”.
Explanation
The speaker asks not only for rescue but for a changed life: “Teach me your way” and make my heart “undivided”. He praises God for great loving kindness and deliverance, then describes proud and violent opponents. Even there, he appeals to God’s mercy, strength, help, comfort, and visible goodness.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What words in this psalm show how urgently the speaker needs God’s help?
Look for repeated requests such as “hear”, “answer”, “save”, “be merciful”, and “listen”, and notice that he calls all day long.
02Which parts of God’s character give the speaker confidence to pray?
Focus on the descriptions “good”, “ready to forgive”, “abundant in loving kindness”, “merciful and gracious”, and “slow to anger”.
03Why does the speaker ask for an undivided heart, and what does he want to do with it?
The verse connects an undivided heart with fearing God’s name and walking in his truth, not merely escaping trouble.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 86:1–17
1Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
3Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
4Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
6Hear, Yahweh, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.
7In the day of my trouble I will call on you, for you will answer me.
8There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, nor any deeds like your deeds.
9All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.
10For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.
11Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.
12I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forever more.
13For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.
14God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, and they don’t hold regard for you before them.
15But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
16Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your servant.
17Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.