This Psalm, in the spirit of it, may easily be the companion of any of the saints in the day of their trouble—as it would appear to have been the breathing of the soul of David. The “for I am holy” of Psalm 86:2 is not to be read as more than the common appeal to God of a consciously pious soul. It does not seem to assert personal perfectness.
The dear and suffering servants of Christ desired a token to be shown for good in the face of their enemies (Psalm 86:17; Acts 4:29-30). And fear afterward came on all (Acts 5:13). Aaron’s budding rod came forth from the divine presence as a token to silence the adversaries, and so the resurrection is that glorious token in favor of Jesus which will abash all who withstand Him, and prove in its result that it is indeed hard for them to kick against the pricks.
“The son of thy handmaid” (Psa. 86:16, and Psa. 116:16) has been judged to mean, “thy property, like the offspring of a female slave,” as “one born in thy house.”
But the Israel of the latter day may also take up this Psalm, the Spirit of Christ guiding their hearts—as we see so much in this book. For an infidel faction is contemplated; such as purpose the destruction of the suppliant (Psa. 86:14); proud ones who do not set God before them. And they seem to cast themselves entirely on mercy, pleading something of the name of the God of mercy, as He showed Himself to Moses after Israel had destroyed themselves at mount Sinai (Psa. 86:15; Ex. 34:6). And their soul taking this standing, the Spirit leads them with much assurance to anticipate glory. They learn that God is both good and great (Psa. 86:5,10).