Salmos 86
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 86
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This is categorized as a "personal lament." A righteous follower of YHWH calls on his righteous God to act on his behalf. righteous author, Ps. 86:1,2,3,4 righteous God, Ps. 86:5,6 SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS This Psalm has a surprising universal element in Ps. 86:9 (cf. Ps. 22:27; 46:10; 47:9; 57:5,11; 64:9; 65:8; 66:1-7; 67:2-5; 98:3; 99:2-3 102:15). Verse 9 is the theological center of the chiasm (i.e., a Hebrew poetic structure). SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY A possible outline would be: author's theological complaint, Ps. 86:1-7 hymn of praise to God, Ps. 86:8-10 His transcendence His uniqueness (monotheism) hymn of praise to God, Ps. 86:11-17, for His immanence There are 15 IMPERATIVES OF REQUEST in this Psalm. incline Your ear, Ps. 86:1 - BDB 639, KB 692, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 17:6; 31:2; 71:2; 102:2; same VERB in IMPERFECT in Ps. 88:2 answer me, Ps. 86:1 - BDB 772, KB 851, Qal IMPERATIVE preserve my soul, Ps. 86:2 - BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 25:20 save, Ps. 86:2 - BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 28:9; 31:16; 59:2; 71:2 be gracious, Ps. 86:3 - BDB 335, KB 334, Qal IMPERATIVE make glad the soul, Ps. 86:4 - BDB 970, KB 1333, Piel IMPERATIVE give ear, Ps. 86:6 - BDB 24, KB 27, Hiphil IMPERATIVE give heed, Ps. 86:6 - BDB 904, KB 1151, Hiphil IMPERATIVE teach me, Ps. 86:11 - BDB 34, KB 436, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 25:4,12; 27:11 unite my heart, Ps. 86:11 - BDB 402, KB 405, Piel IMPERATIVE turn to me, Ps. 86:16 - BDB 815, KB 937, Qal IMPERATIVE be gracious to me, Ps. 86:16 - same as #5 13.grant strength, Ps. 86:16 - BDB 678, KB 733, Qal IMPERATIVE save, Ps. 86:16 - same as #4 show me a sign, Ps. 86:17 - BDB 793, KB 889, Qal IMPERATIVE Notice the VOCATIVES. O Lord (YHWH), Ps. 86:1, 3, 6, 11, 17 O You my God (Eloah), Ps. 86:2 O Lord (Adon), Ps. 86:4, 5, 8, 9, 15 O God (Elohim), Ps. 86:10,14 O Lord my God (Eloah), Ps. 86:12; Eloah also in Ps. 86: O grant (no name/title) giver, Ps. 86:16b The other names/titles used are God (El), Ps. 86:15 Your name (BDB 1027), Ps. 86:9, 11, 12 These all reflect a vibrant prayer for help to Israel's Deity! SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY SPECIAL TOPIC: '"THE NAME" OF YHWH SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD (adon and kurios) The structure of individual Psalms is difficult to categorize. If this Psalm is an acrostic (see NASB Study Bible, p. 829), then Ps. 86:9 is the central key verse. To me, Ps. 86:8 is theologically the key verse and Ps. 86:9 is the logical extension. Monotheism was the uniqueness of Israel in the ANE (with two brief exceptions, one in Egypt and one in Assyria). SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM
Salmos 86:1-5
86:1 "Incline" This is imagery derived from the VERB "to bend" or "to turn" (BDB 639, KB 692). It calls on YHWH to hear His servant's plea (cf. Ps. 86:3,4,6,7). SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD ▣ "O Lord" This is YHWH (i.e., the name is defined in Exod. 3:14). This is the covenant name for Deity. It is a form of the VERB "to be." There is a play between YHWH (Ps. 86:1,3,6,11), Elohim (Ps. 86:2,10,12) and Adon (Ps. 86:4,8, 9,12). These represent different concepts of deity. YHWH ‒ God as Savior, Redeemer Elohim ‒ God as Creator, Sustainer, Provider Adonai ‒ God as master, owner, husband SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D. SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD (adon and kurios) ▣ "answer" This was not a prayer for information but the assurance of God's personal presence and care. The psalmist has experienced this and, for whatever reason, does not now! It is a plea for God to act in a visible way. to deliver (Ps. 86:7) to witness (Ps. 86:8-10) ▣ "For I am afflicted and needy" This phrase (ADJECTIVE, BDB 776 and ADJECTIVE, BDB 2) could be understood in a spiritual sense to refer to the faithful remnant (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT, THREE SENSES, cf. Ps. 34:6; 35:10; 40:17; 70:5). In this Psalm it is possibly a reference to the King. 86:2 "Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man" There are two terms used to describe the psalmist. soul ‒ lit. nephesh, BDB 659, cf. Ps. 86:4 (twice), 13,14; see notes online at Ps. 3:2 and Gen. 35:18; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH godly one/man ‒ BDB 339, see notes online at Ps. 16:10; 50:5 This begins a series of reasons why God should act on the psalmist's behalf. he is godly, Ps. 86:2 (hasid, BDB 339, faithful to the covenant, related to hesed, BDB 339; see SPECIAL TOPIC: godly ones, holy ones) he trusts in YHWH, Ps. 86:2 he prays to YHWH, Ps. 86:3,4,5 because God is also hesed, Ps. 86:5,15 In the OT, death was not seen as a reunion with God but a place of silence and joylessness. The psalmist wants to praise God in worship. The concept of what happens in the afterlife is developed (i.e., progressive revelation) in the NT. Thank God for Jesus and the NT! SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD? ▣ "save" In the OT this referred to physical deliverance. SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT) ▣ "who trusts in You" See notes online at Ps. 4:5. 86:3 "to You I cry all day long" This referred to prayer throughout the day (cf. Ps. 22:2; 25:5; 88:9). 86:4 "I lift up my soul" This is an idiom for recognizing YHWH's place of power (i.e., on high, in heaven, cf. Ps. 123:1) and offering one's total self to Him (cf. Ps. 25:1; 143:8; Lam. 3:41). The cultural background could be sacrifices were lifted to YHWH Jewish prayer was offered with the head, eyes, and hands lifted to heaven 86:5 This is a summary of the character of YHWH (cf. Ps. 86:10,15). There are several of these summaries throughout the OT (cf. Exod. 34:6; Jonah 4:2; Neh. 9:17; Joel 2:13; Ps. 86:15; 103:8; 145:8). Man's hope is in the settled, loving character of YHWH. He is good ‒ BDB 373 II (cf. 1 Chr. 16:34; 2 Chr. 5:13; 7:3; 30:18; Ezra 3:11; Ps. 25:8; 34:8; 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1,25; 135:3; 136:1; Jer. 33:11; Nah. 1:7) ready to forgive ‒ BDB 699, ADJECTIVE found only here (cf. Neh. 9:17; Ps. 130:4 for usages for the related NOUN) abundant in lovingkindness ‒ BDB 912 I CONSTRUCT BDB 338 (cf. Exod. 34:6; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jon. 4:2), see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed) great, Ps. 86:10 ‒ BDB 152 (cf. Ps. 77:13) do wondrous deeds, Ps. 86:10 ‒ BDB 810, see SPECIAL TOPIC: WONDERFUL THINGS merciful, Ps. 86:15 ‒ BDB 933 gracious, Ps. 86:15 ‒ BDB 337 slow to anger, Ps. 86:15 ‒ cf. same parallel verses as #3 abundant in faithfulness/truth, Ps. 86:15 ‒ cf. same parallel verses as #3 SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) ▣ "to all who call upon You" The scope of YHWH's love and offer of acceptance is surprising in an OT Psalm. The same universal promise is repeated in Ps. 86:9. God welcomes all who approach Him in faith and worship. See SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN. "Calling upon" God was an act of faith expressed in public worship in Joel 2:32 and quoted by Paul in Rom. 10:9-13. SPECIAL TOPIC: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "RECEIVE," "BELIEVE," "CONFESS/PROFESS," AND "CALL UPON"?
Salmos 86:6-10
86:6-7 These are parallel to Ps. 86:1. They express the psalmist's confidence in YHWH's personal presence and care. 86:7 "In the day of my trouble" The psalmist's plight is described further in Ps. 86:14. These enemies are described in several ways. arrogant men have risen up against me an assembly of violent men have sought my life (nephesh, see note online at Gen. 35:18) they have not set You before them those who hate me, Ps. 86:17b 86:8 "There is no one like You" This is an affirmation of monotheism (cf. Ps. 86:10b). This reflects Exod. 15:11. SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM ▣ "among the gods" This is the Hebrew term elohim, used of spiritual beings (angels) and humans in the OT. For a full discussion, see the Special Topic below. I have really struggled with the use of Elohim in Ps. 82:1. Please look there. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY C. ▣ "Nor are there any works like Yours" YHWH is the God of creation. He is the only creator, all other beings are created. He is the God who acts. The idols of the nations cannot see, hear, or act! 86:9 "All nations whom You have made shall come" If there is only one creator God and all humans are made in His image (Gen. 1:26-27) and God has promised to redeem all fallen humans (Gen. 3:15), then God's love for all humans must be the focus of God's redemptive activities; SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN This verse expresses the assertion that YHWH created the nations (cf. Deut. 32:8 in the LXX, which asserts YHWH gave each nation a national angel, cf. Deut. 29:26; Ps. 82:1; Dan. 10:13; 12:1). This is imagery taken from Canaanite mythology and applied to YHWH. It does not affirm this mythology, but uses it to magnify Israel's God. See G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, pp. 201-271. Also John H. Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible. ▣ "they shall glorify Your name" Gentiles responding in faith and worship will glorify YHWH's love and redemption (cf. Isa. 66:23c). If Ps. 86:14-15 refers to rebellious Jews, the contrast with believing Gentiles is even more powerful! SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH 86:10 "You are great" This is a recurrent theme (BDB 152, KB 177). YHWH's characteristics are called "great." God Himself ‒ 1 Chr. 16:25; 2 Chr. 2:4; Neh. 8:6; Ps. 48:1; 86:10; 96:4; 99:2; 135:5; 145:3; 147:5; Jer. 10:6; 32:18 His works ‒ Deut. 11:7; Jdgs. 2:7; Ps. 92:5; 111:2 His glory ‒ Ps. 21:5; 138:5 His name ‒ Josh. 7:9; 1 Sam. 12:22; 1 Kgs. 8:42; 2 Chr. 6:32; Ps. 76:1; 99:3; Jer. 6:10; 44:26; Ezek. 36:23; Mal. 1:11 His mercy ‒ 1 Kgs. 3:6; 2 Chr. 1:8; Ps. 57:10; 86:13; 108:4 His goodness ‒ Neh. 9:25; 1 Kgs. 8:66 His compassion ‒ Isa. 54:7 Wow! What a God! ▣ "wondrous deeds" See SPECIAL TOPIC: WONDERFUL THINGS (OT) ▣ "You alone are God" This affirmation of YHWH's uniqueness is expressed in several ways. Deut. 6:4 (Mark 12:29), "The Lord is one!" Deut. 32:39 (Isa. 44:6,8), "There is no god beside Me" Ps. 83:18, "You alone, whose name is the Lord" Isa. 37:11, "You are the God, You alone" Isa. 44:6 1 Cor. 8:4; (Deut. 4:35,39), "there is no God but one" SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM
Salmos 86:11-13
86:11-13 This stanza calls on YHWH (two IMPERATIVES OF REQUEST) to provide His faithful follower needs. instruction obedient lifestyle ( SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP) a united, pure heart In return the follower will "walk," "fear," "give thanks," and "glorify" YHWH. This is the covenant order: God provides, faithful followers respond. ▣ "Your way. . .Your truth. . .Your name" These are obviously in a parallel relationship. Biblical faith is a daily lifestyle cognitive truth a person to completely trust in/on I usually say it is a person (Jesus) to welcome; truths about that person to believe (the Bible); and a life like that person's to live! All of these elements are necessary for a full, complete, and mature biblical faith! ▣ "way" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY 86:11,12 "Unite my heart. . .with all my heart" This is a Hebrew idiom for total allegiance and dedication (i.e., Jer. 24:7; 32:39; Ezek. 11:33; 18:31; 36:26). SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART 86:12 "I will give thanks. . .I will glorify" These two VERBS are COHORTATIVES. give thanks ‒ BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense glorify ‒ BDB 457, KB 455, Piel COHORTATIVE SPECIAL TOPIC: THANKSGIVING ▣ "Your name" Calling on YHWH's name (i.e., His person, character) goes back to Gen. 4:26 (cf. Gen. 12:8; 21:33; Ps. 80:18; 145:1-2; Dan. 9:19; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:9-13). These are acts of faith, worship, and thanksgiving. Faithful followers publicly and repeatedly call out to the invisible God of creation and redemption. SPECIAL TOPIC: What Does It Mean to "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," and "Call Upon?" SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" of YHWH ▣ "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam) 86:13 "Your lovingkindness toward me is great" See full note at v. 10. SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed) ▣ "delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol" The VERB (BDB 664, KB 717) is a Hiphil PERFECT and, therefore, could be understood as past, present, or future (only context can determine). Sheol is the holding place of the dead. The Jews buried their loved ones, therefore, it was viewed phenomenologically as being in the center of the earth. The psalmist's reference has been understood in several ways. sickness covenant enemies (fellow Jews) external enemies (the surrounding nations) future end-time sense (eschatological) The term "depths" is literally the ADJECTIVE "lowest" (BDB 1066, cf. Deut. 32:22). SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD? SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH
Salmos 86:14-17
86:14 God's faithful followers have enemies! Who these are is uncertain. Whoever they are, they do not know nor recognize God or His people (cf. Ps. 54:3, similar in Ps. 36:1). 86:15 See full notes at Psalm 86:5. 86:16 This is parallel to Ps. 86:1 and 3. ▣ "Your servant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT ▣ "save the son of Your handmaid" This term "handmaid" (BDB 51, KB 61) can be literal female slave ‒ Gen. 29:24,29; Exod. 2:5; 23:12; 2 Sam. 6:20,22; Job 19:15 concubine ‒ Gen. 20:17; 21:12; 30:34 figuratively ‒ humility 1 Sam. 1:16; 25:24,25,28,31,34; 2 Sam. 14:15,16; 20:17 in Ps. 86:16 and 116:16 the imagery is intensified by "son of a maid servant" (or "handmaid"). This implies the child and mother were faithful followers of YHWH 86:17 Does this verse imply a plea for those of Ps. 86:14 to repent or is it a call for public justice? Psalm 112:10 may relate to this verse.