Psalm 86
Why appeal to God for help? There are two reasons an appeal to God is entirely reasonable. First is that God is good. In several places the psalmists expressed confidence in the loving, gracious, and kind nature of God, for example, verses 5 and 13. There's no point in an appeal to someone who is mean, evil, or vindictive. Second, God is able. The psalmist expresses the power of God to act in verses 8 and 10. It is useless to appeal to someone who is powerless to help. Because God is both supremely good and almighty, it is reasonable to appeal to Him; in fact, it is the only logical thing to do.
There is in verse 17 a wonderful picture. The NASB says, ‘...show me a sign for good.” That would better be translated. “fix an honorable mark or token of your name on me”. Suppose an ambassador from a great and mighty king goes to a city where he is personally unknown. He would need a token or mark indicating that he is the king's servant. For us, what is the mark that we as individuals or as a community represent our King? “By this all men will know you are my followers, that you…”
“Lord, may the love we express be powerful evidence that we are Your people. AMEN”
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