Psalms 86:15
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Psalms 86:15
15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Chapter Context
Psalms 86 is a poetic and liturgical chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of judgment, mercy, covenant. Written during various periods (c. 1000-400 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Temple worship utilized these compositions across various periods of Israel's history.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-17: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it illustrates divine judgment and mercy in response to human actions. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Psalms and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Psalms 86:15
15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Analysis
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious (וְאַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֵל־רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן, ve-attah Adonai El-rachum ve-channun)—Rachum means compassionate, merciful; channun means gracious, showing favor. Longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב־חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת, erekh appayim ve-rav-chesed ve-emet)—Erekh appayim literally means "long of nostrils," i.e., slow to anger; rav-chesed means abundant in covenant love; emet means truth, faithfulness.
This verse quotes Exodus 34:6, God's self-revelation to Moses after the golden calf. David contrasts his godless enemies (v. 14) with God's compassionate character. The fivefold description emphasizes divine patience and reliability. Despite enemy violence, God remains merciful. This isn't weakness but strength—he could destroy rebels instantly but offers grace instead.
Historical Context
Exodus 34:6-7 is cited repeatedly in the OT (Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 103:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2), becoming Israel's core confession of God's character. Whenever they faced judgment or distress, they appealed to this revelation.
Reflection
- How does meditating on God's character (compassion, grace, patience) transform your response to enemies?
- Which of these five attributes (compassion, grace, patience, mercy, faithfulness) do you most need to trust right now?
- How does God's "longsuffering" with his enemies inform how you should treat yours?
Word Studies
- Mercy: רַחֲמִים (Rachamim) H2617 - Compassion, mercy