Psalms 86:7
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Original Language Analysis
בְּי֣וֹם
In the day
H3117
בְּי֣וֹם
In the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
1 of 5
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֶקְרָאֶ֗ךָּ
I will call
H7121
אֶקְרָאֶ֗ךָּ
I will call
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
3 of 5
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Psalms 50:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.Jonah 2:2And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.Psalms 17:6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.Hebrews 5:7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;Isaiah 26:16LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.Psalms 91:15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.Psalms 142:1I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.Psalms 142:3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.Psalms 18:6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Historical Context
David's confidence reflected covenant theology—God had bound Himself by oath to preserve David's dynasty (2 Samuel 7:8-16) and to hear His people's prayers offered at the temple (1 Kings 8:28-30). This covenantal assurance sustained Israel through exile and persecution. The early church inherited this confidence, recognizing Christ as fulfillment of God's covenant promises and ultimate basis for answered prayer (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Questions for Reflection
- What evidence from Scripture and experience grounds your confidence that God will answer your prayers?
- How should Christians pray when the specific 'answer' they seek doesn't come as expected?
- How does Christ as mediator strengthen your confidence beyond even David's covenant assurance?
Analysis & Commentary
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. David declares confident intention to pray during distress—the day of my trouble (beyom tsarati, בְּיוֹם צָרָתִי) denotes specific crisis moment requiring divine intervention. The verb qara (קָרָא, call/cry out) indicates urgent, vocal petition, not quiet meditation.
The causal clause for thou wilt answer me (ki ta'aneni, כִּי תַעֲנֵנִי) expresses unshakable confidence grounded in God's covenant faithfulness and past deliverance. David's certainty doesn't rest on favorable circumstances but on God's character revealed in Scripture and personal experience. This confident expectation distinguishes biblical prayer from generic spirituality—we call upon One who has bound Himself to respond.
This verse anticipates the New Testament teaching on prayer in Jesus's name. The confidence David expresses finds fuller foundation in Christ's finished work and explicit promise: "Ask, and it will be given to you" (Matthew 7:7). The Christian prays with even greater assurance, approaching God through the mediator who guarantees access and answer.