Psalm 86:1-17
Just to Know You're There

A Prayer by David.

Hear, Yahweh, and answer me,
      for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my soul, for I am godly.
      You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
Be merciful to me, Lord,
      for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to the soul of your servant,
      for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive;
      abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
Hear, Yahweh, my prayer.
      Listen to the voice of my petitions.
In the day of my trouble I will call on you,
      for you will answer me.
There is no one like you among the gods, Lord,
      nor any deeds like your deeds.
All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord.
      They shall glorify your name.
For you are great, and do wondrous things.
      You are God alone.
Teach me your way, Yahweh.
      I will walk in your truth.
      Make my heart undivided to fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart.
      I will glorify your name forevermore.
For your loving kindness is great toward me.
      You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.
God, the proud have risen up against me.
      A company of violent men have sought after my soul,
      and they donÕt hold regard for you before them.
But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God,
      slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
Turn to me, and have mercy on me!
      Give your strength to your servant.
      Save the son of your handmaid.
Show me a sign of your goodness,
      that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed,
      because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.

World English Bible

The historical sections of the Old Testament show us that David was skilled as a leader and a warrior, faithful in following God's directions and immensely successful as King. There were extraordinarily difficult times in his life before he became king. He had to leave his home, relocate frequently to escape the assassins from King Saul, and at a low point in his life, he even become a mercenary for his former enemies. Through his exile, David was consistently portrayed as a strong man of faith who repeatedly gathered large bands of supporters and who always achieved his objectives. During his lifetime, and certainly as a historical figure, David was a celebrity and a superhero, seeming larger than life.

For those of us who are not of superhero status, there's doesn't appear to be much that is relevant for us in David's life.

Fortunately, David the wise leader and cunning warrior was also the expressive poet. In many of the Psalms, we see David pour his heart out in ways any military leader would consider embarrassing and tactically foolish. But it has to be this way. No matter how strong we are, no matter how convinced we are that we're right, we have to hurt when painful circumstances crash in on us. David, once the youngest son of an insignificant herder outside a small town, had been elevated to the court musician for King Saul, given the daughter of the king in marriage, and widely hailed for his successes in battle. Just as quickly, this same King threw spears at him, sent companies of troops after him, and suddenly David had to leave behind his wife, his parents--his whole life as he knew it.

We can imagine that it was one of those times, hiding in a cave in the wilderness regions of a foreign country that David first wrote this prayer. He would come back to it again and again in his life, recognizing often that people would fail him, friends would desert him, and he would even bring harm upon himself, but God was always there.

We, too, like David need to come back over and again to cry to God that we are needy. Sometimes life betrays us and we are left alone, battered, and empty, and, oh gracious God, we are so needy. Sometimes everything goes so well that we put our confidence in ourselves instead of God, and as our pride drains away our faith, we find we are so needy. Sometimes the pressures of managing our time, our money, or our relationships get too much to bear, and we are so needy. God is always there, with abundant love to meet all our needs, in due time, and in God's plan.

"Just hear me, God," David writes, "just let me know You are there." We have no rights that we could require a response from God; David says he is like the child of a slave girl addressing the King, but David knew that God would answer anyway.

Please, God, wrap Your arm around us and hug us to remind us of Your love.

When those people we thought we could rely on forever have betrayed us, we like David need to know You are here.

When our sins and failures have made our lives a mess, we like David need to know You work all things for good in Your time.

When we can't count the blessings You have showered on us, we like David need to bow in awe at Your Glory and remember that our only significance is Your love for us and in us.

"Be near me, Lord Jesus," we sing. Give us the humility, precious Lord, to sense Your presence always with us, and the faith to trust you more and more.