Today’s passage picks up where we left off yesterday, with David giving us more good reasons why he is confident that God will answer his prayers, helping him when he is in great distress. In fact, verses 8 and 10 remind us all that prayer should be our first response in difficult times – there’s nothing else, there’s no one else who has the kind of power our God has. There isn’t any other God, so why should we look elsewhere for deliverance?

And as we saw yesterday, David is determined to be in a right relationship with God. That’s why in verse 11 he asks God to teach him His will, and promises to walk in His ways. But that’s also why David responds to God the way he does in verse 12 – even while he’s still in the midst of his tremendous problems, he is so certain that God will deliver him that he breaks out in thanksgiving and worship. He thus demonstrates not only obedience to God, but supreme trust in God.

And why is David’s faith so great? Not only because of God’s great power, but also because of His great love. In verse 13, he not only speaks of God’s lovingkindness, His faithful, covenant-keeping love. He also remembers how God has demonstrated that love to him in the past. So, when in verse 15 David repeats the description God gave of Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6 – that God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth – this isn’t merely academic. It’s personal.

And the same God extends the same love and power today to those who come to him in the same sort of faith and repentance. David said in verse 9 that all the nations would one day come and worship God because of Who He is and what He has done. Will we join them today?

Psalm 86:8-13 (NAS)

8 There is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Thine.
9 All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify Thy name.
10 For Thou art great and doest wondrous deeds; Thou alone art God.
11 Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth; Unite my heart to fear Thy name.
12 I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Thy name forever.
13 For Thy lovingkindness toward me is great, And Thou hast delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.