Psalms 86:12

Psa 86:12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

Ver. 12. I will praise thee] While he prayed, he found his prayer answered; and therefore thus breaketh forth into praises.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa 86:12-13. I will praise thee, O Lord, &c. — Not only as the Lord, but as my God. And I will do it with all my heart — That is, with readiness, cheerfulness, and fervency, and with a sincere regard to thy honour; for I will glorify thy name — And that not for a time merely, but for evermore — I will glorify thee as long as I live, and hope to be glorifying thee to all eternity. For great is thy mercy toward me — It is a fountain inexhaustibly full, sending forth streams inestimably rich, and the benefits which I have derived from it are as invaluable as they are innumerable, and lay me under unspeakable obligations to praise and glorify the giver of them. Nor is this more my duty than my interest; for I know that gratitude for mercies already received will be recompensed by a continuance and increase of those mercies. Of the greatness of God’s mercy the psalmist gives this instance. Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell — Hebrew, משׁאול תחתיה, mesheol tachtijah, which Green renders, From the grave beneath: “Thou hast often snatched me from extreme dangers, which, like an abyss, or bottomless pit, were ready to swallow me up.” But sheol often means hell, properly so called, or eternal death; and of this even some of the Jewish writers understand the word here. David knew he had deserved to be cast off for ever, and to be doomed to the lowest hell for his sin in the matter of Uriah; but Nathan assured him the Lord hath taken away thy sin: and by that word he was delivered from the lowest hell, and herein God’s mercy was great toward him. Even the best saints, we must remember, owe it, not to their own merit, but to the mercy of God, that they are saved from the lowest hell; and the consideration of that should greatly enlarge their hearts in praising the mercy of God, which they are obliged to glorify for evermore. So glorious, so gracious a rescue from everlasting misery, justly requires the return of everlasting praise.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. (Psa 86:12) I will thank thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will honour thy name for ever. The first verb means not merely to praise in general, but to praise for benefits received. See above, on Psa 6:5. This verse describes the effect that is to follow from the granting of the prayer at the close of the preceding verse. When his heart is once united to fear God, cordial and perpetual thanksgiving will follow as a necessary consequence.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

86:12-13 In anticipation of God’s rescue, the psalmist praises him and trusts in his goodness.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 12. I will praise thee - with all my heart] When my heart is united to fear thy name, then shall I praise thee with my whole heart.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12. I will praise thee, O Lord my God! David engages, when he shall have experienced God to be in all respects a beneficent father, to yield to him the tribute of gratitude. He expressed in the preceding verse a desire to have his heart united to God, that he might fear him; and now he affirms it to be his resolution to publish or celebrate his praises, not only with the mouth or tongue, but also with sincere affection of heart; yea, even to continue with steadfast perseverance in that exercise.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(12, 13) Comp. Psa_56:13; Psa_57:9-10.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12, 13. Cp. Psa_57:9-10; Psa_9:1; Psa_50:15; Psa_50:23.

with all my heart] R.V. with my whole heart; when the prayer of Psa_86:11 is granted.

thy mercy] Thy lovingkindness.

and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell] From the nethermost Sheol. From Psa_56:13 (= Psa_116:8); Deu_32:22. Deliverance from imminent danger of death may be meant; yet here the Psalmist may identify himself with the nation, and refer to its deliverance from the death of the exile. Cp. Psa_85:6.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart,.... And under that consideration, that he was his God, and which itself is sufficient matter of praise; this makes him amiable, and such he is, love itself: this is a blessing of pure grace, and is the foundation of all other blessings, and continues for ever: this work of praise, which is no other than ascribing glory to God, and giving thanks unto him for mercies received, the psalmist determines to do with his whole heart, which is to be engaged in every spiritual service; even all of it, all that is within it, every power and faculty of the soul, Psa 103:1, which is expressive not of perfection, but sincerity:

and I will glorify thy name for evermore; by celebrating the perfections of his nature, by giving him the glory of the works of his hands, by praising him for all favours, by devoting himself unto him, and by doing all things for his glory, and that for ever, in time as long as he lived, and to all eternity.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart - This is but carrying out the idea in the previous verse. He would give his whole heart to God. He would allow nothing to divide or distract his affections. He would withhold nothing from God.

And I will glorify thy name for evermore - Not merely in the present emergency; but I will do it ever onward - even to eternity. The meaning is, that he would in all cases, and at all times - in this world and in the world to come - honor God. He would acknowledge no God but him, and he would honor him as God.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Either,

1. If thou grantest my request, Psa 86:11; or,

2. Because thou hast done what is expressed Psa 86:13.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 12. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart. When my heart is one, I will give thee all of it. Praise should never be rendered with less than all our heart, and soul, and strength, or it will be both unreal and unacceptable. This is the second time in the psalm that David calls the Lord "my God", the first time he was in an agony of prayer (Ps 86:2), and now he is in an ecstacy of praise. If anything can make a man pray and praise, it is the knowledge into that the Lord is his God.

And I will glorify thy name for evermore, eternity gratitude will prolong its praise. God has never done blessing us, let us never have done blessing him. As he ever gives us grace, let us ever render to him the glory of it.

Ver. 12. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name. We glorify God by praising him. Doxology, or praise, is a God exalting work. Ps 50:23. "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." The Hebrew word, Bara, to create, and Barak, to praise, are little different, because the end of creation is to praise God. Though nothing can add to God's essential glory, yet praise exalts him in the eyes of others. When we praise God, we spread his fame and renown, we display the trophies of his excellency. In this manner the angels glorify him; they are the choristers of heaven, and do trumpet forth his praise. Praising God is one of the highest and purest acts of religion. In prayer we act like men; in praise we act like angels. Believers are called "temples of God", 1Co 3:16. When our tongues praise, then the organs of God's spiritual temple are sounding. How sad it is that God hath no more glory from us in this way! Many are full of murmuring and discontent, but seldom bring glory to God, by giving him the praise due to his name. We read of the saints having harps in their hands, the emblems of praise. Many have tears in their eyes and complaints in their mouths, but few have harps in their hands, blessing and glorifying God. Let us honour God this way. Praise is the quit rent we pay to God: while God renews our lease, we must renew our rent. Thomas Watson.

Ver. 12. I will praise thee, O Lord, & c. Such a soul as David was is enlarged to talk high of God: I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; and I will glorify thy name for evermore. Alas! poor creature, how canst thou proclaim him "for evermore"? A soul fired with desire to praise God, burns after both more perfect things and more lasting than it is able to perform. "To will is present with it", etc. See but the reachings and longings of such a soul, how it swells in desires to glorify God! Thomas Goodwin.

Ver. 12. With all my heart. When my heart is united to fear thy name, then shall I praise thee with my whole heart. Adam Clarke.

Ver. 12. The art of praising God by heart.

Psalms 86:13*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; i.e. "with an undivided heart." And I will glorify thy Name (see ver. 9) forevermore. A belief in immortality is implied, if not formally asserted.

A comprehensive prayer.

"Unite my heart to fear thy Name," etc. This rich and elevated psalm is well called in the title "a prayer," rather than "a psalm." It is more devout than poetical. Its distinctive character is the remarkable union of intense personal feeling with large views of God"s character and relation to mankind (ver. 9). This has led critics to speak of it as "liturgical," overlooking the deep strain of personal feeling, leading the psalmist even (ver. 16) to plead that he is the child of a godly mother, as well as (ver. 2) that he is "holyq.d. either consecrated to God, or one on whom God bestows grace. This petition, "Unite my heart," etc., is one of great compass, grandeur, simplicity, bespeaking a heart already fixed on God. It seeks

I A SUPREME AFFECTION. A. master passion, to which all other desires and affections shall be subordinate. The worldly mind, just because it is worldly, is torn by conflicting desires the prey of passions or feelings, each of which seeks mastery. For the world (as St. John describes it. 1Jn_2:16) has no unity; a mass of contradictions, rivalries, inconsistent objects of desire. Only the heart which has learned to say, "Thou art my Portion", (Psa_119:57) has found the principle of unity, the keynote which can put all the heart"s pure and true affections in tune.

II A SINGLE AIM. A master purpose, to which all other objects must yield, and which gives back colour to the whole life. Successful men are characterized by singleness and earnestness of aim. A limited and narrow man will carry his point, if it be the one thing he lives for; while men of splendid genius waste their powers, and become splendid failures for lack of concentration and motive power. (see Php_3:13, 14) The hottest diffused sunshine kindles no flame; but concentrate but a few rays with a glass on one point, and flame bursts forth. Supreme love to Christ, and a single eye to his service and approval, give a unity to life which is a great element of success, even in what we call worldly affairs. (Col_3:3)

III UNDOUBTING CONVICTION. Strong, unwavering faith. Doubt distracts, agitates, unsettles, weakens. (Jam_1:8) A doubting temper, fond of dwelling on difficulties and objections, is fatal to unity of mind, heart, and will. Doubts, if they assail you, are neither to be timidly shrunk from nor idly played with, but honestly faced and fought. But the grand secret of conviction is to dwell first and constantly on the positive evidence of truth. If that is adequate, unanswerable, then a thousand questions we cannot at present answer need not trouble us. They can wait; but facts will not wait. Here is a great secret, not only of strength, but of rest. And in rest is a reservoir of energy. (Isa 26:3Jo Isa_14:1)

What grand possibilities there are in the Christian life! If an Old Testament saint could put up such a prayer, and have it answered, how much more may it be fulfilled in our experience!

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.