What is Psalm 86 about?

Psalm 86 is a humble prayer of David in which he asks the Lord for mercy, help, guidance, and deliverance. The psalm is rooted in God's character, especially His mercy, steadfast love, faithfulness, and readiness to forgive.

What does Psalm 86 teach about prayer?

Psalm 86 teaches that prayer begins with humility and dependence on God. David comes to the Lord honestly in weakness, trusting not in himself but in God's mercy and faithfulness.

What is the main message of Psalm 86?

The main message of Psalm 86 is that God's people can pray with confidence because the Lord is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

How does Psalm 86 point to Christ?

Psalm 86 points to Christ by showing the need for mercy, help, and deliverance that is ultimately fulfilled in Him. Through Jesus Christ, believers can come confidently before God and receive grace in time of need.

Psalm 86: A Humble Prayer Rooted in the Character of God

Name: Psalm 86: A Humble Prayer Rooted in God’s Character
Uploaded: 2026-05-05
Channel: Dave Jenkins
Description: Psalm 86 teaches how to pray in weakness with humility and trust, rooted in the mercy, love, and faithfulness of God.

⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 3 min read

Psalm 86: A Humble Prayer Rooted in the Character of God

Show: Reading the Bible Daily with DaveHost: Dave JenkinsKey Scripture: Psalm 86

Show Summary

In this episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, Dave Jenkins walks through Psalm 86 and explains how this psalm teaches believers to pray in times of weakness, need, and opposition.Psalm 86 is a humble prayer rooted in the character of God. David does not rely on his own strength, but appeals to God’s mercy, steadfast love, and faithfulness. This psalm reminds us that when we are weak, God is attentive to the cries of His people.

Listen and Watch

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Episode Notes

Main Theme

Humble prayer rooted in the character of God.

Key Doctrine

God’s mercy toward the needy.

Main Takeaway

Trust the Lord. He inclines His ear to His servants.

Memory Verse

“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”Psalm 86:11

Key Points from Psalm 86

A Prayer for Need: David begins by acknowledging his weakness and dependence on God’s mercy.
The Unmatched Greatness of God: David praises the Lord as the one true God whose works are wondrous.
A Plea for Guidance: David asks the Lord to teach him His way and unite his heart to fear His name.
Opposition from the Proud: David faces enemies, yet anchors his hope in God’s merciful character.
A Final Plea for Grace: David asks for God’s favor, help, and comfort.

Christ Connection

Psalm 86 points us to Jesus Christ. Christ prayed in perfect humility and dependence on the Father. He trusted fully in God’s will amid suffering and reveals perfectly the mercy and grace of God.Through Christ, believers can approach God with confidence, knowing that He hears, helps, and upholds His people.

Key Scriptures

Psalm 86
Exodus 34:6–7
Psalm 25:4–5
Isaiah 55:8–9
Matthew 11:28–30
Hebrews 4:16

Daily Application

Personal Life: Pray honestly, trusting God’s mercy.
Family: Teach dependence on God’s character, not self-reliance.
Church: Encourage prayer rooted in truth and humility.
Work Life: Seek God’s guidance with an undivided heart.
Hope: Rejoice that God inclines His ear to those who call on Him.

Gospel Encouragement

God graciously hears the prayers of His people because of His covenant mercy fulfilled in Christ alone.To unbelievers: turn to the Lord. He is gracious and forgiving.To believers: pray boldly. Your Father hears you.

Thank You for Listening

Thank you for joining today’s episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave. When you feel weak, overwhelmed, or uncertain, remember this: the Lord is gracious, faithful, and attentive to the prayers of His people.If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and follow Servants of Grace for more biblical teaching and daily encouragement. For more from Reading the Bible Daily with Dave page at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube.

Dave Jenkins( Executive Director )

Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.

Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.

He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).

You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.

When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.

Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

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