Psalms 86 - Introduction - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023.

This Psalm, which is entitled a prayer of David, was probably composed by him during his afflictions under Saul. It was afterward, as the Jews inform us, made use of by Hezekiah, when the Assyrians made an attempt upon Jerusalem. The first words of it are the same with Hezekiah's, 2 Kings 19:16. and the 8th and 9th verses may be very fitly accommodated to that history; but the rest of the Psalm much better suits the case of David in his troubles, who here prays for the favour and blessing of God, Psalms 86:1-6. Expresses confidence in him, by praise mingled with prayer, Psalms 86:7-17. Many consider David as personating, in this Psalm, the man Christ Jesus, his great root and offspring, who, in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him, and was heard in that he feared.