Psalm 86 - ESV (Reformed Caucus)

Psa 86:1 A Prayer of David. Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Psa 86:2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you--you are my God.

Psa 86:4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

Psa 86:5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Psa 86:8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

Psa 86:9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

Psa 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Psa 86:12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Psa 86:13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Psa 86:14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.

Psa 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Psa 86:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.

Psa 86:17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

I hear some say that the truths and teachings given in the Old Testament were ONLY for the Jews. I read that recently when someone posted the familiar verses from Chronicles that spoke of a nation who humbled themselves before God, repented of their sin and prayed, that God would forgive them and heal their land. I started thinking of the different Psalms where we derive a great deal of comfort and encouragement as well as other Old Testament verses that speak to our hearts. Are they not meant for us today??? Then I think God brought to my mind a few verses that said, “God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee.” and “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” God has also said he is no respecter of persons, so I can be assured that the promises that he gave others so many thousands of years ago are just as relevant and every bit full of the same promises today as back then. God never changes, he is the same yesterday, today and forever. Praise his name!

I hear some say that the truths and teachings given in the Old Testament were ONLY for the Jews.

Some would also relegate them to moral stories as well. But our Lord Jesus said that the Old Testament was written specifically about Him.

I think the issue is really that people find it difficult to relate the God of the Old Testament to the God of the New. It makes them uncomfortable simply because they choose not to understand the very nature of God. Personally, I have always been a great fan of the OT simply because I have felt that it reveals God/man true interaction. It you want theology, the start of the Christian church, or to know the life of Christ you will find it in the New Testament. If you want an example or a principle of our fallen state and the way God redeems us and cares for us, you will find it in the Old Testament.

I agree completely! I have a hard time understanding the arguments I hear sometimes against the true nature of our God that he unreservedly revealed to us. Someone said on this forum that the OT God was a different one from the one revealed in the NT. I was shocked! They stated that the OT God was like "Odin", fierce, dreadful, angry and vengeful. It was then stated that the NT God instead was "love" and incapable of the same characteristics spoken of in the OT. I had a hard time convincing them that they are one and the same God and we do not have more than one true God.

There is only one true God and he does not change, his compassion and mercies are renewed every morning and they endure forever. Every promise that he spoke to the individual is relevant to us today. He does not change and that is why we can trust in him and surrender ourselves completely to him and his will.

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