God’s compassion is always present for anyone who calls out in faith.
David, who lived around 1010-970 BC and served as king over Israel, lifts his heart in prayer, emphasizing attributes of God’s nature such as goodness, mercy, and forgiveness. When he proclaims, “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” (v.5), he testifies to the trustworthiness of the Lord’s character. Geographically, David reigned in Jerusalem, the ancient capital located in the hill country of Judea in the southern part of Israel. David’s perspective emerges from a lifetime of battles, sin, and deliverance, revealing a deep confidence that God’s compassion extends personally and universally.
The phrase “ready to forgive” (v.5) points to God’s willingness to restore those who humbly turn to Him. This comforting truth resonates throughout Scripture, finding powerful expression in passages such as 1 John 1:9, which highlights divine forgiveness for all confessing believers, and Romans 5:8, demonstrating love that covers the entire world through Christ’s sacrifice. In Psalm 86:5, the psalmist encapsulates the unwavering kindness and broad reach of God’s redemption, tying together the tender mercies already foreshadowed in the Old Testament and fully revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus.
By describing God as “abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You” (v.5), David invites everyone to experience divine goodness firsthand. This phrase is as relevant today as it was in the ancient kingdom of Israel, extending hope to believers seeking grace and assurance. Such abundant lovingkindness aligns with the crescendo of God’s plan displayed in the New Testament—through Jesus’s saving work and the invitation for all to come (John 3:16).
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Psalms 86:5 meaning
David, who lived around 1010-970 BC and served as king over Israel, lifts his heart in prayer, emphasizing attributes of God’s nature such as goodness, mercy, and forgiveness. When he proclaims, “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” (v.5), he testifies to the trustworthiness of the Lord’s character. Geographically, David reigned in Jerusalem, the ancient capital located in the hill country of Judea in the southern part of Israel. David’s perspective emerges from a lifetime of battles, sin, and deliverance, revealing a deep confidence that God’s compassion extends personally and universally.
The phrase “ready to forgive” (v.5) points to God’s willingness to restore those who humbly turn to Him. This comforting truth resonates throughout Scripture, finding powerful expression in passages such as 1 John 1:9, which highlights divine forgiveness for all confessing believers, and Romans 5:8, demonstrating love that covers the entire world through Christ’s sacrifice. In Psalm 86:5, the psalmist encapsulates the unwavering kindness and broad reach of God’s redemption, tying together the tender mercies already foreshadowed in the Old Testament and fully revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus.
By describing God as “abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You” (v.5), David invites everyone to experience divine goodness firsthand. This phrase is as relevant today as it was in the ancient kingdom of Israel, extending hope to believers seeking grace and assurance. Such abundant lovingkindness aligns with the crescendo of God’s plan displayed in the New Testament—through Jesus’s saving work and the invitation for all to come (John 3:16).