Psalm 86: Teach Me Your Way — A Prayer of David

Psalm 86 is an individual lament of David, written while a band of insolent men sought his life — and at the same time a prophetic hymn looking ahead to the day when all the nations come and worship God. Andrew walks through its three movements and draws out a pattern worth copying in your own prayers. Verses 1–7 — The appeal. A general call for God to preserve and save the life of his servant. Notice the psalm doesn't open with the request; it opens by appealing to who God is — good, forgiving, and abounding in steadfast love. Verses 8–13 — The sovereignty. There is none like God among the heavenly host. Because of that, all the nations he has made will come and worship before him — including those who now oppose his people. "Teach me your way, O Yahweh, that I may walk in your truth." Verses 14–17 — The supplication. Wicked men who do not honor God have risen up against David, which makes them God's enemies as much as his own. He appeals a second time to God's attributes — mercy, grace, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, faithfulness — and asks for a sign of favor, so that those who hate him would see it and be put to shame. The closing question is the one to sit with: David doesn't just want rescue. He wants his rescue to be a sign that turns his enemies toward the God they've been ignoring. Season 2 of Biblical Reflections — a week-by-week walk through the Psalms to shape our prayer and our praise. — Biblical Reflections is a Christ-centered Bible teaching podcast from Cogworks Media, hosted by Andrew. 🔗 More shows and ways to give: cogworksmedia.org Cogworks Media is a 501(c)(3) public charity — gifts are tax-deductible.