Summer in the Psalms: Psalm 86

Discussion Questions

1) What sort of trouble was David facing? Can you relate?

2) Take a look at Psalm 9. What is the fate of the nations that serve other gods? Compare this to Psalm 86:8-9. How does the gospel help make sense of this?

3) Psalm 86:11 contains a couple of profound requests. What things compete for the attention of your heart? How would growing in “the fear of the Lord” change your perspective?

4) Are David’s words in Psalm 86:12 a realistic promise, or a naïve statement of good intentions? How can we (like David) say or sing words like these with confidence?

5) In Psalm 86:14-17 David seems to see the possibility- perhaps even the probability- that God will be merciful to his enemies, leading them to repentance. How does he seem to feel about this? The prophet Jonah faced a similar conclusion years later (Jonah 4:1-3). Compare their attitudes. Which should we emulate?)