“Poor and Needy” (Ps 86)

“Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; for I am poor and needy” (vs1)

This is the reality of our condition: we are POOR and needy. We have weakness and inability that can only be conquered by the Lord's grace. We have not been injected with power that sustains us day in and day out, but we're CONTINUALLY in need of God, as was Christ. He did nothing in His own strength, but everything was by faith, looking up to the Father. He said, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works” (John 14:10). You and I, though holy in Christ and saved from the foundation of the world, are DEPENDENT upon God for obedience, joy, and every spiritual thing. We can do nothing, so we walk by faith. We depend on God and make our needs known, as we draw near to Him who loves to save. He says, “Preserve my soul, for I am holy; You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You!” (Ps 86:2)

No one calls upon the Lord in vain (vs3-7). He says, “Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You”. Not a single person trusts Him, says, “Help”, and He doesn't save. He is GRACIOUS to all, because GRACE has nothing to do with our worthiness. Grace comes from God's own love by the blood of Christ in the power of the Spirit. He doesn't require us to bring Him what we don't have. We simply need Him, and receive His promises by believing that God is faithful, God is good, and God is just to save! He says, “Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me”. It is impossible to be rejected, because He only receives sinners who are undone, and without anything to give.

Finally, we're nothing special, but we are His (vs9-17). He says, “Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant. Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.” We are the sons of servants, but we have a pitying God who cares for such poor creatures who add nothing to Him. He says, “If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?” (Job 35:7). He is GRACIOUS to the pitiful of the earth, the people who can't contribute or do anything for ourselves. He is gracious to the lowly, for not many are called who are mighty in strength (1 Cor 1:26-31). And, no one ever knows God who is mighty in spirit. We are reduced to our nothingness, exposed like Joseph's brothers in our hatefulness to God, and, as we are, we are pardoned and helped because God is good! What great hope we have in Christ, we who are nothing.