Psalms 86: Teach Me Your Way

Psalm 86 is a Prayer by David, as the title says. David is poor and needy and asks God to hear and answer him. He says, You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive. There is no one like you. All nations will come and worship you. Teach me your way, Yahweh. You are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger.

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Bible:

Read Psalms 86

World English Bible · 17 verses

¹ A Prayer by David. Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Hear, Yahweh, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call on you, for you will answer me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, nor any deeds like your deeds.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forever more.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, and they don’t hold regard for you before them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your servant.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Psalms 86 · Preschool

God Is Good

Name Date

Color the heart and the praying hands. God is good and ready to forgive.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.”

Psalms 86:5 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God is good! When we say sorry, he forgives us. Let's say, Thank you, God, for being good.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Psalms 86 · Grade 4

You Are God Alone

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 86 calls it a Prayer by David. It is the only psalm in Book III with David's name in the title. It is full of phrases found elsewhere in the Bible. David begins humbly: Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. He trusts God because of who God is: For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.

David praises God as unique. There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, nor any deeds like your deeds. He looks ahead: All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.

At the center is a famous request: Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name. David's enemies are proud and violent, but he rests in God's character, using words first spoken to Moses: But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.

Show What You Know

What is special about Psalm 86 in Book III?
Why does David trust God?
What does an undivided heart mean?
Where do the words of verse 15 come from?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

HeargoodTeachheartGod

David begins humbly: , Yahweh, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
He trusts God because of who God is: For you, Lord, are , and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
David praises as unique.
At the center is a famous request: me your way, Yahweh.
Make my undivided to fear your name.

Think About It

What could pull your heart in two directions? How can God make it undivided?
Why does David look forward to all nations worshiping God?

Memory Verse

“For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.”

Psalms 86:10 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for teaching me your way. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What would it look like to give God your whole heart this week?
David asked for strength as God's servant. Where do you need God's strength to serve?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Psalms 86 · Grade 5

Make My Heart Undivided

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 86 reads, A Prayer by David. It stands alone among the Asaph and Korah psalms of Book III. Much of it echoes other scripture, especially God's self-description to Moses in Exodus 34. David's prayer is built on contrast. He says, I am poor and needy, and then, For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness (86:5).

The psalm has a wide vision. There is no one like you among the gods, Lord. All nations you have made will come and worship before you. You are God alone. David's personal trouble does not shrink his view of God; instead his view of God puts his trouble in perspective.

Verse 11 is a prayer about the inner life: Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name. A divided heart wants God and something else at the same time. Then, facing proud and violent men, David repeats God's own words: merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth. He asks for a sign of God's goodness so that his enemies may see that Yahweh has helped and comforted him.

Show What You Know

Which passage does Psalm 86 echo?
How does David's view of God affect his trouble?
What is a divided heart?
Why does David ask for a sign of God's goodness?

Crossword

Across

Make my ____ undivided to fear your name.
Teach me your ____.

Down

And ready to ____.
For I am ____ and needy.
____ me your way.

Think About It

How could learning God's way help make your heart undivided?
Which of God's qualities in verse 15 means the most to you, and why?

Memory Verse

“Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.”

Psalms 86:11 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for teaching me your way. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can God's character help us in trouble?
David promised to glorify God's name forever for rescue from the depths. How can remembering your rescue fuel lifelong praise?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All Psalms chapters · All books

Psalms 86: Teach Me Your Way

Read Psalms 86

Worksheets

God Is Good

Prayer

Take It Home

God Is Kind

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Teach Me

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

A Prayer of David

Prayer

Take It Home

God Is Ready to Forgive

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

An Undivided Heart

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

A Prayer of David

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

You Are God Alone

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Make My Heart Undivided

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options