Bring Joy to My Soul

(Psalm 86:4-5)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 86 consists entirely of a prayer by David during a time when he was greatly distressed. The details of his difficulties are not revealed, but verse 14 points out that a group of proud and violent people, who had no regard for God, were seeking his life. Yet, amid his trouble, the Psalmist approaches God in prayer with complete confidence that the Lord will be merciful and deliver him.

Verses 1-7 contain a formula. First, the Psalmist makes a request of God and then gives God a reason(s) why He should fulfill it. For example, in verses 1-3, he asks God to hear him, preserve his life, and be merciful to him and then offers reasons for God to respond. Then continuing in verses 4-5, he gives God four reasons to fulfill his next request after making it.

The request is for God to “bring joy” (NIV) to his soul. He pleads, “Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” Consider a closer look at the reasons he gives for granting this request.

I lift up my soul (4b). This statement implies his earnestness, faith, and trust — he lifts his very being to God. He calls himself God’s “servant,” and only to Him could he call out. Further, recall earlier in the prayer (2b), he refers to himself as “Your servant who trusts in You!” Elsewhere, “lifting up” the soul is associated with prayer. In Psalm 143:8, he said, “ . . . for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.” Also, note the correlation of the concepts in Psalm 25:1-2a “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You . . . .” With complete sincerity, he lifts his heart and soul to God, whom he trusts!
You are good (5a). God is good! Elsewhere, Psalm 145:9 states, “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Some may not understand why a good God allows so much evil in the world. However, people are free moral agents and not robots. God never promised that everything would be easy in our lives. If we think this, we are confusing life on earth with heaven. Of course, the ultimate way we see God’s goodness is when he sent His Son to die for our sins (Rom. 5:8).
You are ready to forgive (5b). Associated with God’s goodness is His willingness to forgive. The Bible teaches that God wants everyone to be saved (2 Pet. 3:9). Also, in the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk. 15), Jesus taught this principle. He said that a man has 100 sheep and loses one; the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the lost sheep, and his friends and neighbors rejoice with him when he finds it. Then Jesus says, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (7). Consider another reason cited.
You are abundant in mercy for all who call upon you (5c). God’s mercy doesn’t simply exist, but it is abundant. (The ESV translates as “abounding in steadfast love.”) However, a condition is attached: “for all who call upon you.” Thus, His abundant mercy is for those who call upon Him. (Note also Rom. 10:9-13.)

The Bible connects God’s goodness, mercy, and readiness to forgive in other places besides verse 5. Consider, for example, Exodus 34:6-7. “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin . . .”

Thus, David is asking God to help him — to bring joy to his soul. Why should he do so? David says it is because I lift up my soul to You; You are good, ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy. So, today, God can bring joy to our souls if we let Him!