Psalms 86
Background
David, the shepherd boy who spent much his youthful years caring for his father’s sheep on the hills of Bethlehem of Judea reveals as much of the livelihood of Jewish history and God’s purpose and favor for blessing the nation of Israel as anyone during his lifetime. David lived around the year 1000 BC, growing up during the time of Judges ending with Samuel. This time period ended and Israel’s demand for a king would prompt God to have Samuel anoint Saul, son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin as Israel’s first King.
David’s Training
At various times in David’s youth, he would be called to appear before King Saul during times of Saul’s “troublesome spirit” with his harp or lyre. This instrument was a portable stringed hand-played instrument that David had masterfully learned to play soothing music undoubtedly for calming while caring for his father’s sheep. Where David had learned the skill of the harp is unknown, but his writing of Psalm 86 may shed some light on its significance.
David, although the youngest of the eight sons, had developed attributes that had caught God’s eye. When taking care of his father’s sheep there were times that he had to address dangers to the flock. David expressed in 1 Samuel 17: 34-36 that he faced the danger of wild animals, specifically lions and bears. Instead of fleeing these dangers, David acknowledged that he would pursue the predator, attack and rescue the sheep taken from its mouths. If the lion or bear turned on David, he stated that he would grab them by their mane or hair or jaw beard, fight them, and kill them. This devotion to endanger his own life for the sheep caught God’s eye and attention. David would share these events with Saul when the Philistines threatened Israel at the battle of Shochoh and the personal challenge of the giant, Goliath. To prove his character and truthfulness, he would show no fear of Goliath and slew him with his sling that he used to protect his father’s sheep. Even in his youth, David’s faith in his heavenly Father had a strong base as evident by his courage at the battle of Shochoh (1 Sam. 17: 26) (1 Sam. 17: 45).
Family of Eight
In a family of eight sons in a rural setting with no modern facilities to expedite the constant need for keeping the homestead operational would require “all hands on deck from sunrise to sunset”. We do not know the nature of the work ethic of the brothers, but David’s qualities in retrospect, consisted of being strong and courageous, talented, ruddy and handsome, and one who had been taught about God and “set his goal to seek after the very heart of God” (1 Sam. 13: 14). David is given credit for writing at least 73 of the 150 Psalms in the Old Testament. This one’s special.
Psalms 86
Background
The background for Psalms 86 only hints that David is experiencing great stress from some threat to his kingdom. As he often does in times of need, he appeals to the Lord for his care, forgiveness, mercy, and deliverance. (vs. 1-5). David then praises the God in heaven who had been there for him time and time again (vs. 6-10). Then David’s words in verses 11-15 express a significant pattern that had impacted his life greatly. He requests unto the Lord to “teach him” what he needed to know. This is a reflection of David’s “training up in the way he should go”; he had been taught specific values by someone. This now brings us to the highlight of David’s upraising and basis for establishing his character. Does verse 16 enlighten readers on this shepherd boy’s “training up in the way he should go”?
Verse 16
O, turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Is David acknowledging the impact of his mother on his life? I believe so. Praise the Lord for godly mothers (Prov. 31).
Sower's Field by L. Michael Schoonover 