Psalms 86:11-17 (NRSV)
Read Psalms 86:11-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
Verse 12I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Verse 13For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Verse 14O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.
Verse 15But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Verse 16Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving girl.
Verse 17Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Devotion
This psalm of David begins with these words: “Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” (Psalms 86:1)
This is a strange confession for David to make. Looking at some of David’s words and actions, he seems to be the polar opposite of poor and needy. These words, for example, do not seem to be the words of a poor and needy man: 2 Samuel 11:14-15 “In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be struck down and die.’”
How can a man like this call himself poor and needy? How can such treachery and unfaithfulness hope to approach God, much less ask to be transformed? David has gall. Perhaps David also has faith.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, you are slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Be merciful to me and to my neighbor – both of us justly condemned, yet graciously redeemed by Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.