Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2713 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Today, we reach the powerful conclusion of our conversation in Psalm 86, covering verses 11 through 17 in the New Living Translation.

In our last trek, we explored the first half of this deeply personal Prayer of David. We heard his desperate cry for God to "Bend down... and hear my prayer," pleading for help based on his covenant loyalty and trust. He grounded his hope in the magnificent truth that God is "so good, so ready to forgive," and that "You alone are God"—unrivaled by any pagan deity.

Now, David shifts from affirming God's character to asking for divine instruction, recognizing that a proper relationship with the Most High requires understanding His will. His prayer moves from dependence to direction, culminating in a powerful affirmation of God's steadfast love and a request for a visible sign of God's favor to silence his adversaries. This final section is a masterclass in how to ask God for guidance and how to confidently claim His mercy.

So, let's open our hearts to David's earnest request, learning the wisdom of seeking God's path and resting in His enduring love.

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me singleness of heart, that I may fear your name. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever. For your unfailing love is great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.

Having established God’s greatness and unique power, David’s first request is for instruction: "Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!" . This is the ultimate expression of submission and discipleship! David isn't praying for wealth or comfort; he's asking for wisdom and direction. He wants to know God's "ways" (derekh—His path, His pattern of acting) so that his life can align with God's "truth" (’emet—His faithfulness and reliability). This is the prayer of the mature believer: Show me how to live in a way that truly honors who You are.

He immediately connects this knowledge to internal integrity: "Grant me singleness of heart, that I may fear your name." The Hebrew phrase translated "singleness of heart" (yaḥad lēḇāḇ) means "to unite the heart." David recognizes the divided, often-conflicted nature of the human heart, which pulls us in different directions. He asks God to make his focus singular, eliminating all spiritual distraction, so that his reverence and awe (fear) for God's name is pure and unmixed. This is the opposite of being double-minded; it is a profound commitment to unwavering loyalty to the Most High.

This singular focus leads directly to perpetual praise: "With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever." The "singleness of heart" he seeks ensures that his worship is wholehearted—praising God with his entire being. This praise is not temporary; it is eternal, giving "glory to your name forever." This is the destiny of the redeemed heart: unceasing, undivided praise.

The reason for this eternal praise is deeply personal: "For your unfailing love is great. You have rescued me from the depths of death." David anchors his future praise in the certainty of God's unfailing love (ḥesed). He acknowledges a past, profound act of deliverance—being "rescued... from the depths of death" (sheol). This rescue is the ultimate foundation of his devotion. He’s been to the brink, and God, in His great ḥesed, pulled him out. This experience of salvation guarantees his eternal gratitude.

O God, arrogant people are attacking me; a whole band of ruthless men are trying to kill me. They ignore you. But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me. Give your servant strength; save me, for I serve you and I trust you. Send me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me will be put to shame. For you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Despite his declarations of praise and confidence, David is honest about his current reality: the battle isn't over. He turns back to the immediate threat: "O God, arrogant people are attacking me; a whole band of ruthless men are trying to kill me. They ignore you." This is the persistent theme of the Psalms—the righteous facing ruthless, often malicious adversaries. The enemies are "arrogant" (zēdhīm—proud, presumptuous) and "ruthless" (literally, "violent ones"). Worst of all, "They ignore you." This mirrors the problem in the divine council judgment of Psalm 82: rulers and powerful people who act with impunity because they disregard God's authority. Their sin is not just violence against David, but contempt for the Most High.

In stark contrast to the enemies' arrogance, David declares God's nature again, invoking the most profound covenant names: "But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness." This is an almost direct quotation of God's self-revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:6). David is holding God to His very nature! He pleads:

By reciting these attributes, David reminds God of the very qualities that define His covenant relationship with Israel. He is saying, "I am facing violence, but You are mercy. I am facing anger, but You are slow to get angry. Act according to your true nature!"

His final, renewed plea is both specific and comprehensive: "Look down and have mercy on me. Give your servant strength; save me, for I serve you and I trust you." This combines the plea for divine attention ("Look down") with the core necessities: mercy, strength (to endure the battle), and salvation. He reiterates his dependence, calling himself God's servant and affirming his trust, echoing the devotion of the righteous King called for in the Royal Psalms.

The climax of the entire psalm is a powerful request for visible vindication: "Send me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me will be put to shame. For you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me." David asks for a "sign" (’ōt)—a visible, undeniable miracle or evidence of God's blessing. This is not for his comfort alone; it's for the public shaming of his enemies. The sight of God's visible favor on David will silence the arrogant and ruthless men who ignore God, proving to them that God has not abandoned His servant.

The final line seals his confidence: "For you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me." This shifts from a future hope to a settled conviction. He is speaking of past help and comfort, using that history of grace as his final, powerful argument that God will surely provide the sign he needs now. His personal history with God guarantees his future hope.

Psalm 86 is a masterpiece of prayer, moving from the depth of personal need to the height of theological affirmation. It teaches us that undivided praise and unwavering truth are found by seeking God's instruction and confidently claiming His enduring covenant love.

The profound wisdom of Psalm 86 for our trek lies in The Unifying Power of the Heart.

Let us commit to uniting our hearts, walking in God's truth, and living a life so clearly marked by His favor that it becomes an unmistakable sign of His presence to the world.

If you found this podcast insightful, please subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’

Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly, your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this Trek of life together, let us always: Live Abundantly... Love Unconditionally... Listen Intentionally... Learn Continuously... Lend to others Generously... Lead with Integrity... Leave a Living Legacy Each Day...

I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to, ‘Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and, ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday! See you next time for more daily wisdom!