I am in Psalm 86 today and tomorrow also. I am reading in both the NKJV version and the Holman Christian Standard. Psalm 86 is a song of David, titled “Lament & Petition.” Despite that foreboding title, there were three phrases that caught my attention. I looked at the first phrase yesterday, “Bring joy.” [vs 4]
Today I want to look at verse 5, “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” [NKJV]
The Holman reads, “For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, rich in faithful love to all who call on You.”
David uses the Hebrew word “towb” to describe God–for You, LORD, are good / kind. The word means beautiful, pleasant, agreeable, and good.
The Hebrew word “checed” is used to describe the magnitude of mercy and faithful love found in God. It means goodness and kindness.
Even in the day of David’s distress, when his enemies were seeking his life (vs 14), his attention, his hope, his assurance was in the God he describes as good, kind, beautiful, agreeable, merciful, and faithful.
No matter our distress, even after all these centuries that have passed, God is still good, kind, beautiful, agreeable, merciful, and faithful to “all those who call upon [Him].”
Praise His Holy Name!