Psalm 86 is a remarkable song of praise and faith. The lyricist, David, shares his intimate knowledge of great and powerful God in this hymn. It encourages, uplifts and leads us into communion with our Master, Creator, the One True God who exists.

I have examined the particular names of God that David chose to use in this Psalm. They help us to understand David’s intent and give a deeper meaning to the reading of this work. I will continue to discuss the particular names of God as I look at the rest of the Psalm.

In verses 3 trough 5, David addresses God as the Lord, or Adonai, Master. So David acknowledges God’s authority and power over his life. He asks God to bring joy to his soul. He knows that for God to do this, he must submit and bow to God’s control. So he says “to you master, I bring my soul”.

Like David, we often long for joy. We desire a deep comfort and contentment deep within our souls that expresses itself as gladness, satisfaction, happiness, and joy. But we often seek it in things that will not fill the soul. They may bring pleasure to the body. They may feed the mind. They may soothe our emotions. But there is nothing that brings joy and delight to the soul, but God.

I wonder if David was thinking of history of his people and God’s faithfulness to them as he wrote these words. The children of Israel were slaves in Egypt. They cried out to God daily. He heard their cries and He became their new Master.

He brought them from slavery into a land flowing with milk and honey. A place where their joy could be complete.
The children of Israel started to choose things that filled the body, fed the mind and soothed emotions, instead of lifting their souls to God. Then they found themselves once again enslaved by the world. In their sin, they rebelled against the sovereignty of Adonai and they suffered. They lost their joy.

In desperation the Israelites would cry again to God and lift their souls to Him, and again He would bring joy to them. It is because He is a good God and ready to forgive. His love is steadfast. His love never fails.

David knew God’s character. He believed that God would be faithful. He was confident that Adonai was a good Ruler. He knew this because of God’s fatithfulness throughtout the history of the world. As David reflected on the character of God, he trusted Him to bring joy, forgive sins, and show love.

In my desire to find joy, I must also submit to the authority of Adonai. I must lift up my soul to him. He is ready to forgive and loving forever. There I will find joy.

“Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.” (Psalm 86:2, ESV)

In Psalm 86:2, David continues to call upon God. He asks God to watch over his life and to save him. As he prays, he asks for divine protection on a life lived by faith and in service to God, “for I am godly.”

David uses a different title for God here than in verse one. Remember in verse one he used YHWH. Here David uses Elohim, the first name of God used in the Bible, “In the beginning, Elohim…” According to The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, “God makes himself known by this name as the Lord of intense and extensive glory and richness as he exercises his preeminence and power in the created cosmos.”*

So David calls out to the Creator. He pleads with the One who has power over all things to care for him. How fitting to call on the Creator to care for his creation. So in confidence, David asks for salvation because he knows that God is in complete control over all things and has the power to keep him safe.

He worships and honors “the Lord of intense and extensive glory”, as he places his trust in Elohim. David knows that God existed in the beginning, so David knows that God has been in control and will continue to control all things, a good reason for trust. God is all powerful so he can answer David’s prayer, another good reason for trust. And because God created everything, he knows how all things work. David believes that God has a plan, has the strength and the knowledge to care for him, because The LORD is his God.

As I contemplated on David’s understanding of Elohim, the words I read grew in richness and depth. As I applied my understanding of YHWH and Elohim to the rest of the Psalm, I appreciated more and more David’s devotion to God. I pray that as you and I learn more about the God we serve, our devotion will grow and we will trust in God as we become godly servants.

*Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (pp. 881–882). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

I always find comfort and encouragement in the Psalms. In the past few weeks, I have been memorizing Psalm 86. This beautiful, honest and passionate song has given me the confidence to openly express my needs before our great God.

This Psalm starts off with David commanding God. At first, I was surprised by this. “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” (Psalm 86:1, ESV) I thought it was pushy and irreverent for David to start his prayer with a command to God. But as I meditated and examined, I realized that this was the way I should approach God.

A revelation came when I went to see my grandchildren. My granddaughter started many conversations with commands and she calls me by my first name, Sheri. It is commonplace for her to say,“Hey Sheri, come!” Hey Sheri, look!”

My grandson is one. He doesn’t say full sentences, but he commands by reaching out, pulling my, and leaning toward the object he is trying to reach. He is definitely directing me by his actions. And the funny thing is I do not consider my grandchildren’s behavior disrespectful or pushy (at least most of the time).

My grandchildren respond this way to me because they know my character. They know who I am and they understand our relationship. They know I want to be involved in their world, their activities and their lives. They understand that I desire to join with them in the adventures of life and I take pleasure in the fun they experience. They also know that they can express sadness, discontent, hurt, and pain. I also continue to love them through the anger, frustration, and outright defiance that they sometimes convey.

David knew God’s character. He knew that God loved him and would love him throughout his life, no matter what that entailed. He knew the character of God and because of that, David was not afraid to demand that God act in line with that character. This is as it should be.

I want my grandkids to know that because I love them, I will consistently act in line with my character. I want them to be able to trust me. I desire a relationship in which they feel safe and comfortable expressing my neediness. Our great God also desires this kind of trust and love.

So today, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)

Thank you, Lord, for loving me so much! I trust you and believe that I can come to you with confidence that you will act in line with your character.

Are we living in troubled times? Yes, but it is not new.The author of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon, once said, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, ESV)

I was reminded of this verse when I read the story of Ahab and Elijah from 1 Kings this morning. Elijah stood firm for the Lord. He opposed the false teachers and their sinful behavior. He did this by proclaiming the truth. As a prophet of God, he spoke the Word of God and many did not receive it well, including the evil rulers of Israel.

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, the rulers of Israel, were wicked and they promoted idol worship. They had led Israel down a sinful path and God was angry. God sent Elijah with a specific message for Ahab. There will be no rain in Israel for three years. This was a serious proclamation because drought would cause famine and result in political unrest.

Elijah did nothing more than declare the truth, based on the Word of God. The declaration said unless God says it will rain, it won’t. By predicting the famine in this way, Elijah exalted God above the false gods, above leaders and authority, and above His creation. He made it clear that no false God or king could control what belonged to God.

Ahab became very upset about this declaration, but instead of directing his anger toward God, he became furious with Elijah the man who seemed to be in the center of the conflict. My explanation for this is that Ahab did not believe in God so he directed his anger toward Elijah, who he knew existed. Ahab and Jezebel threatened Elijah with death, but God protected him.

Three years later, Elijah meets up with Ahab. “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.” (1 Kings 18:17–18, ESV)

This situation is so similar to the world today. Nothing is new under the sun. What has been done will be done again. Elijah’s situation is not uncommon today. God’s people continue to proclaim the truth of God to an angry world who does not acknowledge His authority, power, or existence. Since they cannot display their anger towards a God they do not believe in, they hurl threats and insults at the messenger. They refuse to take responsibility for their sin and they attempt to blame shift.

But like Elijah we must stand firm. We must not back down or take responsibility for the sins of others. Their own choice to dismiss God’s truth is what brings consequences for their sin. Our declaration of truth does not cause trouble, it only states the obvious, sin brings pain, suffering, and death.

A paraphrase of 1 Kings 18:18 helped me to find my voice in the midst of a blame shifting culture. “I have not troubled you by stating the Truth of God. I am not intolerant, angry, mean or bigoted. It is you and the culture that you espouse that has brought the trouble because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed a false god of your own creation.”

Last blog I wrote about God’s laws and commandments. I have been frustrated that so many professing Christians pick and choose what rules they think God really meant. Many people only quote verses that further their own personal kingdom, rather than the kingdom of God.

It seems that the Bible and even God have been relegated by much of the population to tools for self-help. When we need encouragement we find it in Scripture. When we are lonely we can pray because God is always there. If someone is ill, we have a Great Physician. No matter what problem we face in our little kingdom we can go to God to seek solace and support.

I am not saying it is bad or wrong to ask God to intervene or help us. He loves His children and desires their best. I am saying that trying to use God as our personal genie to grant our wishes for a perfect life is wrong. It is shallow and self-serving. Christianity is not God endorsing our little kingdom and supporting it, rather it is seeking to be a part of His Kingdom.

So what does it mean to be seeking God’s kingdom? How are we to act as citizens of the heavenly realms?

First, we worship the King. Jesus is the central figure. People are not. I am not. We give honor, glory and praise to Jesus individually and corporately with our hearts, minds, intellect, and will. “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11, ESV)

Next, we as citizens work for the common good of the kingdom. We need to work in cooperation, as one body, to point others to the greatness of God. We should be doing all we can to lead others to eternal life. “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3, ESV)

We also need to follow the rules of the kingdom. God’s laws are not always popular, even among His citizens, but they are good. They are good because they provide safety, peace, community, joy and love. A society thrives when the citizens all conform to an honorable set of standards and rules. When people establish their own rules or disregard the rules of the kingdom, we have anarchy.

I often forget that my kingdom is not the one I should be living for. When I forget that I am not the queen of my world, I start to pick and choose which rules of God I want to be part of my kingdom. I need to start every day worshipping the One True God. I also need to make it a priority to cooperate with other kingdom citizens for the common good. I must also seek to know God’s law and follow it, all of it.

“The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words. I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.” (Psalm 119:57–60, ESV)