Psalm 86

In the midst of a group of four psalms attributed to the sons of Korah, you find one psalm by David, the only Davidic psalm in the entire third book of Psalms. When David wrote it, he was facing some formidable enemies whom we cannot identify (v. 14), at a time when he was “poor and needy” (v. 1) and calling for God’s help. The remarkable thing about the psalm is that it is a mosaic of quotations from other parts of the Old Testament, especially 25–28; 40; and 54–57; and Exodus 34. Since David wrote these psalms, he had every right to quote from them and adapt them to his present needs. At a time of danger, when he felt inadequate to face the battle, David found three encouragements in the Lord, and so may we today.