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Day 285

Psalm 86:16a "Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!"

Day 285 – Psalm 86

“Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!” Psalm 86:16a

EMPLOYING SCRIPTURE IN PRAYER

David’s knowledge of God reminds us of a text in Exodus 34:6. It would not be difficult to conclude that David had a significant amount of Scriptural knowledge. The challenge for David was to apply his knowledge of the Scriptures in prayer.

“Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your maidservant.”
Psalm 86:16

1. “Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me”

a) This was a plea for the mercy of God to be extended.
This plea for mercy was made twice (Psalm 86:3a, 16a).
b) This plea was based upon knowledge that God was merciful.
i) He was “abundant in mercy” (Psalm 86:5b, 15b).
ii) His mercy may indeed be described as “great” (Psalm 86:13a).

2. “Give Your strength to Your servant”

a) David was pleading for strength.
b) The significance of this prayer for strength:-
i) He did not ask God to destroy His enemies in one Divine stroke of judgment.
ii) He asked for strength to face up to his enemies.
iii) He asked for strength to endure all that his enemies hurled at him.
iv) He asked for strength to enter into combat with his enemies in a fair fight.
c) David saw himself as a servant of God.
i) He would fulfill what God had assigned him.
ii) He practised humble servanthood most consciously.

3. “And save the son of Your maidservant”

David expressed genuine and deep humility. He saw himself as only “the son of a maidservant” rather than a mighty king. He was nothing in his own sight. He pleaded for mercy from a great God to save a very humble and unworthy “son of a maidservant”.