🙏 Psalm 86:11 | "Teach me your way"

together with

Happy Monday, everyone!

Voice of the Martyrs is graciously offering Malachi Daily readers a free movie I think every Christian should watch (more on the movie below). Get your free access here if you can’t wait.

But first, this week, we’re memorizing Psalm 86:11!

In today’s email…

• 📜 Background on Psalm 86

• 🙏 A prayer to prepare your heart this week

• 🎵 A song to help you memorize Psalm 86:11

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MEMORIZE 🧠 

Teach me your way, O Lord,

that I may walk in your truth;

unite my heart to fear your name.

Psalm 86:11

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CONTEXT 📕 

Author: Psalm 86 was written by King David, one of the most prolific psalm writers in the OT.

Date: Scholars estimate that this book was written sometime in the 10th century BC, but we don’t exactly know the occasion, as David doesn’t mention any specifics — but we do know he is in significant pain.

Audience: David’s psalms are personal reflections that would have been received by the kingdom of Israel.

Additional context: Psalm 86 is one of five psalms of “prayer”…

• Psalm 17: A Prayer of David 

• Psalm 86: A Prayer of David 

• Psalm 90: A Prayer of Moses 

• Psalm 102: A Prayer of an Afflicted Person 

• Psalm 142: A Maskil (Meditative Prayer) of David

It’s also one of over 70 psalms of lament, specifically in supplication (aka asking God for something).

So what is going on?

The big picture: David is in pain and he needs help.

We don’t exactly know when he wrote this, but we do know the events in David’s life that might’ve led to writing this prayer:

• On the run from King Saul who was trying to kill him

• Enduring violence and danger through a lifetime of battle

• Dealing with fallout of:

  • Adultery (Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah, and death of their child)

  • Family abuse (Amnon and Tamar)

  • Rebellion from a son (Absalom)

• Struggles with seasons of depression

Psalm 86 unfolds likes this:

• David expresses his pain.

• He cries out to God for help.

• He then appeals to God’s goodness.

• And then he looks to God’s wisdom as the solution. 

APPLY AND RESPOND 🏃‍♂️ 

Put yourself in the shoes (or sandals) of King David for a second.

On one hand, you are a man after God’s own heart, and your life is one filled with victories, great wealth, and strong security…

But on the other, you bear the scars of battle, betrayal, unfathomable loss and your own sin.

It’s an incredible weight to carry, but you know the Lord is the only one who can bring you through it — so you still praise Him.

Read: Take time today to read all of Psalm 86 and make notes of David’s cries and pleas for help, and how he points to the Lord as his salvation.

Pray:

Lord, as I study your Word this week, prepare my heart to receive Your Truth. Your ways are always good, and I know that they renew me when I feel empty and hopeless. Amen. 🙏 

SONG OF THE WEEK 🎵 

Listen to this song to help you meditate on this psalm of lament this week:

Psalm 86:11 by the Verses Project (Spotify | Apple Music | Youtube)

Want all the songs we share in one place? We created a community playlist on Spotify!

Now, you can continue to listen to all of the songs we use to help us memorize and meditate on Scripture - all in one place! Check it out below!

ANSWER KEY ✅ 

Teach me your way, O Lord,

that I may walk in your truth;

unite my heart to fear your name.

Psalm 86:11