These
first verses are powerful, Psalm 86:1-5.
They introduce us to this great
"Prayer of David," as the chapter is so carefully labeled.
Here is verse one, already
putting a request before the Lord.
"Bow down
thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy."
Psalm 86:1
The opening verb, "bow down," translates "natah"
in Hebrew. It means "to bend, to incline, to extend, to stretch
out!"
God here is pictured as a caring Father, one
keenly interested in the cries of His children!
This "bowing down" implies a certain amount
of effort of God's part, too.
God's "ear" emphasizes His ability to "hear"
our needs!
The name of God used, "LORD," is Jehovah God!
The Eternal "I AM" of the universe!
The auxiliary verb is "hear," something God
does very well.
Yet "anah" means, in the King James Version
anyway, "to answer!" By actual count it is rendered "to hear" 42
times and "to answer" 242 times in the Old Testament!
The Psalmist is exhorting the Lord to come
down and help him!
Much like the Old Testament Prophet:
"Oh
that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come
down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence."
Isaiah 64:1
God can do that!
Next, the Psalmist gives a reason, advances a
holy "argument," as to why God would hear and answer such a
prayer.
"For I am poor and
needy," he says.
Not, "I am King!"
Not, "I am wealthy!"
Not, "I have earned it!"
But, "I am poor and
needy."
The word "poor" is "aniy," meaning
"afflicted, lowly, humble." It is derived from "anah," meaning
"afflicted."
Lord, I must have Thy Help!
It is absolutely essential!
The corresponding word "needy" is "ebyon,"
that is, "to be in want."
These are the folks God helps!
"Bow
down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and
needy."
Get ready, praying friend.
I strongly suspect the answer is on the way.
God is listening!
Yes, once again:
"Bow
down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and
needy."
A short prayer, but with possibly unending
consequences, blessings!
This "model" request can be yours, too!
Pray it today.
See if the Lord does not indeed "bow down His
great Ear," and then "hear and answer" you!
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 2, VERSE 2, THE FIRST HALF:
There are five
of them.
"Sentence Prayers," they might
be called.
Short but wise petitions,
brought to the Throne of Grace!
Yesterday in my study I saw a
book named something like this: "The Ten Second Prayer
Principle."
Any of David prayers here could
be prayed in less than five seconds, I guess.
Today we focus on Psalm 86:2,
but only the first half of the verse, the first prayer it lists.
"Preserve
my soul; for I am holy." That's it! A request,
buttressed by a reason for its being granted.
The verb "preserve," is "shamar" in Hebrew,
used nearly 500 times in the Old Testament! It means "to guard,
to protect, to keep, to observe."
David is asking the Lord to "watch over" his
very soul!
Now that's security!
The verb is an imperative, as are most Old
Testament prayers! It is as if God is being required to
do this! That's bold praying! Grammatically there is no "as if"
to it, God is being told what to do!
But now read Isaiah 45:11, the basis for such
theology. "Thus saith the
LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to
come concerning my sons, and concerning the
work of my hands command ye
me."
Wow!
"Preserve
my soul; for I am holy." Psalm 86:2a
The noun "soul" is nephesh," from a base verb
that means "to take breath." By consensus one's soul consists of
his or her "mind and will and emotions." That's a good workable
definition. But by literal Hebrew syntax the soul is that
part of you that "lives!" It's your very life!
David could be asking God not to let Saul
kill him!
Saul, or anyone else!
For more days to live, weeks maybe, or months
or years.
God can do that!
He added fifteen years to King Hezekiah's
life in one afternoon!
Effortlessly!
David as a "saved" man here could be trusting
the Lord for "eternal security," for his "soul."
Or he could as easily be asking God for a
"hedge of safety" around his earthly existence, long life and
good days.
Either way, it's a good prayer!
"Preserve
my soul; for I am holy." Still, Psalm 86:2.
Now for the reason such a prayer might be
granted.
"For I am holy,"
says the petitioner.
Now to us that sounds like "bragging."
But it is not.
In fact, was David all that holy?
Really?
Only in the sense that he was "forgiven."
He had killed people, many of them.
He had committed adultery.
He had lied and deceived time and time again.
To stay alive nonetheless, but still, such things were wrong.
No, the word David uses for "holy" is
different. Only found 32 times in all the Bible, "chasiyd" means
"kind." Or "merciful." It is directly related to the major root
word "hesed," the noun for God's "lovingkindness."
Here's a picture or two of "hesed."
One, The God Who "stooped down"
to our level, sending a sinless Saviour to die on Calvary that
we might be saved!
And two, the God Who entered into a "covenant"
relationship with us old sinners, after we had repented and been
washed in the Blood of the Lamb! "Covenant" here virtually means
we became God's Bride and He became our Groom, our
Husband!
David being "holy" means that the subject is
becoming more like His God!
God is kind and faithful and loving and
godly, so is David!
In the King James Bible this word "holy" or "chasiyd"
is translated like this: "saints" 19 times, "holy" 3 times,
"merciful" 3 times, "godly" 2 times, "good" 1 time, "godly man"
1 time, and "Holy One" 1 time.
Can we put it all together now?
"Preserve
my soul; for I am holy." Psalm 86:2a
A short prayer, but there is nothing little
about its meaning!
By the way, whom do you trust for
preservation?
Life insurance?
The Law?
Seat belts?
Or Almighty God?
And for your soul in the spiritual sense,
eternity in Heaven?
The Church?
I hope not!
The baptistry?
The preacher?
Your good works?
None will do.
"LORD, preserve my
soul," David addresses Jehovah Himself!
And by "holy" he does not means "sinless,"
but the quality of becoming more and more like His Father in
Heaven!
More kind.
More gentle.
More victorious over sin.
More "godly!"
Wow!
Now let's blend the first verse and a half
that we have studied so far. "Bow
down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my soul; for I am holy." Psalm 86:1-2a,
with the "a" just meaning the first clause of the second verse.
Two of five requests!
Little prayers!
Come back tomorrow for more!
The Lord willing.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3, VERSE 2, THE SECOND HALF:
This prayer is
"as good as it gets!"
I know of no other Old
Testament Text that so nearly equals "the sinner's prayer!"
Or maybe even better yet, so
well describes the heart-cry of an already "born-again"
Christian as well!
Here it is, short but powerful!
"O
thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee."
Psalm 86:2b
When a persons asks God "to save" him,
salvation issues have surfaced!
But then again, when terms like "my God" and
"thy servant" are used, the Psalmist has no doubt already
established a relationship with the Lord. And a good one, at
that!
The name for God used here is "elohiym." The
opening syllable, "el," means "power or strength or might!" This
is the all-powerful God! This is the God Who can do anything!
This is God who "in the beginning created
heaven and earth," as Genesis 1:1 tells us.
If this God cannot save, then all are lost!
The verb "save" is "yasha," which in addition
to "save" means "deliver, help, preserve, defend and rescue!"
Wow!
He "saves" a sinner from Hell!
He "helps, preserves, defends and rescues"
the saint from many dangers, toils and snares!
The "prayer" nature of this request is
evident in the "imperative" mood the verb carries.
The need is urgent!
The noun "servant," used either generally or
personally, is spelled "ebed." David might be insinuating that
all Jewish people are the "servants" of God. Or, conversely, he
might just have himself in mind. Either way, "ebed" simply means
a common "slave." One who is "in bonds," chained until bought by
a master!
This is a term of humility.
Paul used the same thought throughout his New
Testament writings, calling himself again and again a "servant"
of Jesus Christ. There the word is Greek, "doulos," still
meaning "bondslave."
Jesus "bought" us with His Blood!
We then "belong" to Him!
That process is called "redemption."
So, we are His servants!
To the Corinthians Paul writes:
"Know
ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which
is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your
body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1st
Corinthians 6:19-20, we are not our own!
Now David is gong to tell us something else,
an additional fact.
"O
thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee."
"Trust" in God is vital.
The participle is "batach," meaning "to have
confidence" in Someone! "To feel secure" in That Person! One
major lexicon defines "batach" as "one falling down upon his
face!" Obviously, in the Presence of God!
"Batach" carries with it so much confidence
that it also implies "no care or worry" on the part of its
possessor!
Absolute assurance!
"O
thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee."
God, Thou are my Everything, my All, the
Source of all Power!
Thou has redeemed me with the Blood of thy
Son Jesus!
I am Thy loyal servant!
And I have tried to gear my life so as to
"trust" in Thee completely!
And dear Lord, as far as my "trust" has
matured, please "save" me from whatever threatens!
Deliver me from all evil!
Defend me from Satan's attacks!
And rescue me out of all my afflictions!
I bow before Thee today, leaning on Thee
alone, confiding in Thee as my Heavenly Father.
Yes!
Prayer, Old Testament or New, seldom rises
any higher than this!
I think David just reached the lofty heights
of the great Apostle Paul, at least in the prayer department!
And before today, to me anyway, Paul was the top prayer-warrior
in all the Bible.
One more time David, pray it please. For our
instruction.
"O
thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee."
Thank you.
And thanks unto Thee, Lord, for hearing and
answering such pleas!
What a God You are!
There is none like Thee!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4, VERSE 3:
God's Mercy
cannot be earned.
It is a gift, from Heaven
above.
It's part of the Lord's very
"Being."
But even with that said, David
the Psalmist still asks the Lord for that very Thing, the
Mercy of Almighty God!
Here's the exact prayer, one of
five short requests that begin the great 86th Psalm.
"Be
merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily."
Psalm 86:3
This plea is lovely.
"Be
merciful unto me, O Lord."
And the reason behind it is commendable too.
"For
I cry unto thee daily."
The words "be merciful" constitute the verb
in that first clause. "Chanan" is the first word in the Hebrew
sentence, as it is in English. That means it is to receive great
preeminence of meaning, great emphasis.
This verse is all about MERCY!
"Chanan" means "to show someone favour, to
show grace, to show pity and compassion."
It's background etymologically means "to bend
down!" Or even "to decline." In the King James Bible it is
translated "to encamp" 47 times! And "to pitch" as in "pitching
a tent" several more times! "To abide" 3 times! "To dwell" and
"to rest" 2 times each also.
Look at this!
God's "mercy" is really God "bending down" to
come visit us!
Him lowering Himself, "declining," taking on
the form of a man, to die on the Cross for our sins!
God coming and "encamping" in our midst!
That's the verb meaning of "dwelt" in John 1:14. "And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth."
The verb "dwelt," in Greek of course, is "skenoo,"
literally, "to pitch a tent!" Yes, "skenos" means "tent or
tabernacle!"
Wow!
David is indirectly praying for Jesus to
come!
And come Jesus did!
A thousand years after David, but still, He
came!
This prayer was answered in a far deeper way
that David might have ever imagined!
David at least is asking something like this:
"Lord, be kind unto me. Shower me with Thy blessings."
But, on a deeper level, He is pleading for
God Himself, Mercy personified, to "bend over" and "to come
down" and "to dwell" in our very midst!
You know what?
God is still "bending down" to help us!
Even 2,000 years after Jesus has died, been
buried and risen again!
He comes to us again and again!
In fact, New Testament style, Jesus "never
leaves us nor forsakes us" now. He is "with us always!"
But still, on occasion, as our needs demand,
or as our prayers request ... He "comes down" in a special and
personal and overwhelming way!
A visitation from the Lord, in our hearts!
Like yesterday as I was driving!
The Lord came down and spent some time with
me!
I really believe that.
I was there! So was He!
David, pray it again:
"Be
merciful unto me, O Lord."
Listen to Habakkuk pray along the same lines.
"O
LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD ...
in wrath remember mercy."
Habakkuk 3:2
We today still need His Mercy!
His Graciousness, His Favour, His Pity!
I want all of it I can get!
Now, to the last part of David's third
prayer.
"For I cry unto thee
daily."
It's almost as if David is saying, "Lord,
give me Mercy please, and if not today, I will be back tomorrow
seeking it all over again!"
The verb "cry" is "qara," that is, "to call
out loud!" This is not necessarily silent prayer. It can
get emotional, fervent!
David, maybe outdoors among his sheep, is
pacing the pastures, begging God for His Favour and Grace and
Mercy!
Mercy, which was ultimately given in the
first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! But was bestowed
thousands, no, millions of times in "handfuls of goodness"
dropped on God's praying people through the ages!
"Mercy," O Lord, "I need Thy Mercy!"
And, immediately, "Here it comes!"
In countless different forms, God's goodness
and grace and favour!
"For I cry unto thee
daily."
The adverb "daily" means of course every time
the sun rises. "Yom" suggests "to get hot!" And that's what
happens nearly every day in the Holy Land! The Hebrews used that
word picture, "getting hot," for a definition for "day." It
fits.
At noon, seven times a week, David can be
found, asking God for blessings!
It must be all right to pray that way!
It's in the Bible!
"Be
merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily."
Let's add this little "arrow" to our prayer
arsenal, folks!
God, Who is already better to us than we
could ever deserve, just might drop on us another Bucket filled
with Goodness and Blessing and Joy and Peace and no-telling what
else!
After all He can certainly
"open
upon you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to receive
it." Malachi 3:10
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5, VERSE 4:
Today we study
the fifth in a series of short prayers, all found in Psalm
86:1-5. This one is my "favorite," if you can say that about a
portion of Scripture.
David asks of the Lord:
"Rejoice
the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my
soul." Psalm 86:4
He just requested an attitude!
I did not even know you could do that!
I thought an attitude was something that
developed within you as your responded to outside stimuli.
But David believes, and rightly so, that
stimuli or not, God can give a man or woman a right attitude!
Or, in this case, a joyful attitude!
I say David is "right" in his prayer because
God has recorded every bit of it in the Word!
"Rejoice
the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my
soul." Psalm 86:4
The first thing I notice is that it's in the
"lifting up of my soul," lifting it heavenward, toward the good
Lord, that this "rejoicing" comes!
The verb "lift up" is "nasa," said like "naw-saw',"
meaning "to carry upward, to bear upward, to rise upward, to
exalt."
How does one "lift" himself or herself toward
God?
I think, primarily, through God's Word!
Paul once called the Scriptures "the Mind of
Christ!" See 1st Corinthians 2:16.
If I lift my "soul," my mind and will and
emotions, toward the Lord, filtering them through the Bible, I
am certainly following David's Psalm 86:4 example.
"For
unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul."
Another way to "lift up" our souls is through
worship! Adoring our sweet Lord Jesus and faithful Heavenly
Father! Praising Him with all our being!
Study the Word!
Worship the Saviour!
Then, pray the first half of this little
prayer,
"Rejoice
the soul of thy servant."
Both halves of the verse refer to the "soul."
And "Nephesh" means that part of me which "breathes!" That which
is alive! Basically, to the Hebrew mind, one's "soul" was one's
very "life!"
David is asking for joy in every part of his
life, every portion of his personality, all over!
Total joy!
Complete joy!
John the Apostle, in 1st John 1:4, would
later call it "full joy!"
And Peter likens it to
"joy unspeakable
and full of glory" in 1st Peter 1:8.
"Servant," the noun used, is just "ebed," a
"slave." Everyone who is saved has been "redeemed" or "bought"
by the Blood of Jesus! We are His "servants!"
Let's begin to put it all together again.
"Rejoice
the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my
soul." Psalm 86:4
Oh, yes. The verb itself, "rejoice!" The
first word in both the English and Hebrew Texts, it is
critically important to understanding this prayer.
And "samach" means "to cause to be glad!"
It's verb "stem" is the most excitable one in Hebrew, the most
intense way of saying a thing! This prayer, to the born-again
Hebrew mind, would sound something like this: "God, really
powerfully completely make me glad and
happy and thrilled in Jesus!"
Synonyms and other definitions for "rejoice"
include both "flourishing" and "taking pleasure in" Someone or
Something. Here that Person is the dear Lord and that Thing is
His Word!
Lord, make my soul "flourish" in Thee!
The more I eat Thy Food, Thy Bible, Thy Word,
let me all the more "burst out" with new life and joy and power!
That "budding forth" is the "flourishing" part! Growth!
Lord, let me derive more and more pleasure,
sheer pleasure, 100% pleasure, from Thee and Thy Word!
Pray it!
Expect it!
Stay in God's Word!
Let it lift you higher and higher toward the
Lord!
And ... wow ... there it is!
That joy!
The prayer has been answered!
"Rejoice
the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my
soul."
What a way to live!
Joyfully!
It's nearly indescribable!
Here's how Paul prayed this prayer, in nearly
the same words: "Now
the God of hope fill you with all joy ...."
Romans 15:13
See that?
"All joy!"
This joy is real!
This joy overflows our lives!
This joy is transformational, changing us day
by day!
I must close this Lesson today. I can't be
too long. Folks read these lines before they go to work. They do
not have all day to study, at least right now.
But, this morning, it's hard to quit!
That joy is "all over me!"
Still, I think I will ask for some more!
"Rejoice
the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my
soul."
So prayed David in Psalm 86:4.
And so can we still pray today, these very
words!
Just as long as we also are "lifting up" our
souls to the same Lord!
Try it!
God will be true to His Word!
And this amazing joy will be yours, a gift
from Him!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 6, VERSE 5:
When we ask
things of God, even things like safety and mercy and joy, we are
depending on God's essential Goodness, His Kindness and Grace!
Therefore, in Psalm 86:5, the
last verse of our Text, God is described in reference to these
traits.
"For
thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous
in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." Psalm 86:5
Without the Truth of verse 5, verses 1-4
would carry no power at all!
God will not "hear me," as asked in verse 1,
if He is not responsive to those who "call" on Him!
God will not "preserve" me, as asked in verse
2, if He is not "good!"
God will not "save" me, still verse 2, if He
is not "ready to forgive."
God will not "be merciful" to me, as asked in
verse 3, if He is not "plenteous" in that very mercy!
And God certainly will not give me abundant
"joy," verse 4, if He is not all of the things listed in this
fifth verse, good and forgiving and merciful to "all who call
upon Him!"
Verse 5, while at the end of these amazing
petitions, is really the "foundation" for them!
"For
thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous
in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." Psalm 86:5
Here's a "theology" lesson, a study in the
"science of God!"
"Lord" here is not Jehovah, the
letters are not all capitalized. The Name is spelled "Adonai"
and is the predominant Name for God in this Paragraph. It occurs
here three times, while Elohiym, "God," occurs only once.
Jehovah or "LORD" is only used once also. In these five verses.
"Adonai" means "Master, the One in control,
Owner," and even "Husband" is implied! He is our Bridegroom!
Concerning "Adonai," there is None above Him!
He is completely and absolutely sovereign, no one being more
powerful!
No Higher Authority exists!
He is "Lord!"
And now of "Adonai" we learn three things in
today's verse.
He is "good."
He is "ready to
forgive"
And He is "plenteous in
mercy."
To whom?
To "all" who
call upon Him!
"For
thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous
in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." Psalm 86:5
"Good" is the
word "tob," meaning "pleasant, agreeable, excellent, precious,
beautiful, wealthy!" What a list!
And truly, God is Good!
"Ready to forgive,"
as Grace-packed as any Old Testament word could ever be,
translates "sallach." It means "willing to pardon," or "willing
to spare" from ultimate punishment!
"Plenteous in mercy"
follows the Hebrew words "rab hesed." The first little word is
an adjective. "Rab" means "much, great, many," or "in
abundance!" And "mercy" is the beautiful noun "hesed," a God Who
has "stooped down" to meet me and my needs, condescending to my
human level! It "hints" at the very incarnation and Virgin Birth
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
And this "hesed" God also has entered into
"covenant" relationship with us! Via the Blood of Jesus! He,
like in a wedding ceremony, has become the Protector and
Provider and Bridegroom to my once-lost soul!
And all these Blessings, great as they are,
are not reserved for just a handful of select Jews somewhere. Or
wealthy Gentiles!
No!
They can be enjoyed by
"all them that call upon" this great God!
"For
thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous
in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." Psalm 86:5
"All" is "kol," no exceptions!
Whosoever will may come!
The verb "call" means to pray to Him. "Qara"
does suggest "crying out loud" though. Vigorous praying!
Begging, if necessary!
And the nature of "qara" here, a Qal
participle in Hebrew, means that this "calling" can be more than
just a one-time thing!
I can pray to Him day after day after day!
Constantly!
And He will keep on being
"good!"
And "ready to forgive!"
And always "plenteous
in mercy," to them who humble themselves and cry out to
Him!
Thank You, Lord!
For this Lesson, Psalm 86:5, on Who
You Are!
"For
thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous
in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."
It's because of This great God, that we can
pray!
Pray with the assurance that He will answer!
Indeed!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 7, THE REST OF THE PSALM:
We have just
completed an exposition of the first five verses of Psalm 86,
containing one short prayer after another.
A total of five requests, also
called petitions.
1. "Bow
down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me."
2.
"Preserve my soul."
3. "Save
Thy servant that trusteth in Thee."
4. "Be
merciful unto me, O Lord."
5.
"Rejoice the soul of Thy servant."
What prayers, short but
powerful! They include everything from assurance to safety to
joy!
Yes!
Now today I want to introduce
you to the rest of the Psalm.
This great chapter, in its
"title" anyway, is called "A Prayer Of David." You know, those
small words that appear just above verse 1, also called the
"superscript."
Many of the Psalms are prayers
of course. But this one, by divinely inspired name, certainly
is.
It's best known verse is, no
doubt, verse 7. "In
the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt
answer me." This is David talking to the Lord.
That noun "trouble" means such conditions of
life that "squeeze and tighten" in all around you! Even putting
"weight or pressure" on you from above! It is spelled "tzsrah"
in Hebrew.
And "call" is that "qara" word, "to cry out
loud" to God! Nothing silent about this prayer! It's urgent and
almost panic laden!
Then comes the reason why David can so
call on our great God!
"For" Thou wilt answer me!
The preposition "for" is basically equivalent
to our word "because." The grammar book just told me that in
Hebrew "kiy" is a conjunction. One meaning "because that" or
"surely" or "as though as."
It's like this: "When troubles comes, I'm
praying to the Lord! Because no doubt, He will answer me!"
"Answer" or "anah" is "to respond, to
testify," even "to bear witness!" God is going to do or say
something when we pray!
David is sure!
Then verse 12 of the Psalm contains a great
commitment to the Lord our God. Here it is:
"I
will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will
glorify thy name for evermore." These words are nearly
self-explanatory.
The verb "praise" is "yadah," picturing a man
"throwing" chunks of thanks and adoration heavenward! Up to the
God Who is the Giver of all blessings! Of every good and perfect
gift!
To "glorify" is "to make something heavy!" To
"weight it down" with honor and respect and reverence! To invest
it with great significance!
What a life goal this would be!
How long does David plan to praise and
glorify God?
"For evermore," in Hebrew, "olam," to the
very "vanishing point!" He will worship God to the very end of
the calendar! Until time can no longer be "seen!" In other
words, through all eternity!
Then, lastly, that 17th verse.
Which is too big for us to discuss in detail.
Today, anyway.
But let's read it at least.
"Shew
me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it,
and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and
comforted me." Psalm 86:17
This is to be prayed when one is discouraged.
When he or she is in one of those "long dry
spells" spiritually.
But it also can be prayed in the very midst
of revival!
When things are going quite well!
Anytime is suitable.
Anytime you need a little encouraging "token"
from God!
And, guaranteed, He will send one!
At least one!
Maybe we should look more closely at this
verse, but tomorrow.
The Lord willing.
I've just got to know what a "token" is!
And how God can "show" me one!
Again, maybe tomorrow.
Psalm 86, a whole Psalm that is a prayer!
Just begging to be voiced before the Lord God
Almighty!
Think I'll go pray.
Anybody want to join me?
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 8, THAT LAST VERSE:
There is a part
of today's Text that I have not understood, not at all, until
just a few minutes ago!
David, the writer of Psalm 86,
lived a dangerous lifestyle. In this Psalm alone we learn
several things about him.
He stays in "trouble" a lot of
the time! "In
the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou
wilt answer me." Psalm 86:7
His heart is often "divided," likely a term
meaning distracted, worried, drawn in different directions!
Again, due to many "dangers, toils and snares.
"Lord,
unite my heart to fear thy name."
Psalm 86:11
David has often been near death, tragic
death! And when a sinner near Hell, the lowest Hell! That is,
until God rescued him! Again, see the danger.
"Thou
hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell." Psalm 86:13
He is chased by the wicked and opposed by the
vain and godless! "O
God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of
violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set
thee before them." Psalm 86:14
In fact, another Psalm that quotes David's
enemies relates this: "Many
there be which say of my soul, There is no help
for him in God." Psalm 3:2
Astounding!
So many people "against" David!
Then, no wonder in this Psalm of prayer,
Psalm 86, David finishes the composition by praying one more
thing. And he asks this of the Lord, in his words:
"That they which hate me
may see it, and be ashamed." Psalm 86:17
He wants those hateful hoards to know that
God is real!
That God is the great Protector!
That God can overrule trouble in His
children's lives, sending great victory and awesome blessings as
well!
Here's the finale of Psalm 86, and what a
Verse it is! "Shew
me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it,
and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and
comforted me." Psalm 86:17, the whole verse this time.
"In the face of all those who hate me, Lord!"
"To prove them and their many gods wrong!"
"To Glorify Thy Name, O God of Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob!"
I humble ask: "Show me
a token for good."
A "token" is any "sign or signal or mark,"
even "miracle" twice in the King James Bible. "Oth" it is
spelled. It is derived from the little word "uth," meaning
"consent or agreement!"
"God, would You please send me a little
indicator that You 'agree' with me on these great issues of
life?"
"That You have defended my cause!"
"Something I can see!"
David needed encouragement, too!
And the enemies of David would, in turn, have
to shut their mouths and "be ashamed!" That verb, "bush," means
"to be disappointed, to be confused, to be frustrated, to be
delayed" in their wicked plans!
"God, prove Thyself alive!"
"Show Thy Mighty Hand!"
"Reveal Thy Approval of this Thy struggling
servant!"
And if you are having trouble with the
concept of the Lord being "on your side," read here:
"If
it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may
Israel say; if it had not been the LORD who was on our
side, when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed us up
quick, when their wrath was kindled against us." Psalm
124:1-3
Back to our prayer verse:
"Shew
me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it,
and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and
comforted me."
The verb "shew" is "asah," meaning "to build,
make or fashion," really "to manufacture" something!
God, custom make for me a "token" for good,
please!
"Encourage me and frustrate the enemies who
hate us so!" Thus prays David the man of God!
Not a token for evil, but for "good!" That's
"tob," meaning "pleasant, agreeable, excellent, appropriate,"
and half a dozen other wonderful things!
"God, help me!"
"Give me some blessing that will help my
downcast soul!"
"And dear Lord, I would not ask this of Thee,
except Thou has done this, and even more, time and time again in
the past!"
"Shew
me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it,
and be ashamed: because
thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me."
See the capitalized words.
In past days, God has been David's Helper and
Comforter!
"Oh, God, do it again, please!"
"Do it again!"
The verb "holpen" is "azar." It means "to run
to someone's side to aid them in time of danger!"
To be that person's "help meet," literally!
How many times has God helped you?
And God as "Comforter" is "nacham," the Old
testament name "Nahum." Remember the Prophet?
This word means "to console, to ease, to show
pity and sorrow." Jesus the Man of Sorrows knows how to comfort
us in our times heartache and grief!
Lord, David needs a "token," anything You
could send him that will "help" him and "comfort" him please.
And, at the same time, "confuse" his many
enemies!
That will be quite a "token," won't it?
I went through the Bile, looking of the
recorded uses of this word "oth," in English "token."
The "rainbow" was one in Genesis 9:12-13.
So were the "plagues" of Egypt, Exodus 4:17.
And the "blood" of the little slain lamb,
Exodus 12:13.
Aaron's "rod" was, too! Numbers 17:10
As well as Rahab's "red cord," Joshua 2:12.
And Ahaz's "sign," a Virgin would "conceive"
and have a baby! So promised Isaiah 7:14.
Now any "token" God might send us would be
unlike these, but still just as powerful and convincing!
"God, You pick the 'token,' please."
Just send something today to uplift my heart!
Any "blessing" that can bring a breath of
fresh air to my soul!
Yes!
A fitting conclusion to David's beautiful
prayer.
Is the devil after you, today?
Have the enemies named fear and doubt and
fretfulness been chasing you for weeks?
Then you are a prime candidate to pray it!
"Shew
me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it,
and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and
comforted me."
Someone try it today!
Add these words to your "prayer arsenal!"
Shoot this arrow from time to time!
God will respond favorably!
I guarantee it, on the authority of His
precious Word!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Thank you for studying with us!
