Psalms 86:15
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psalms 86:15
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” This verse pivots from distress to a proclamation about God’s character. It contrasts human frailty with divine patience; God is described with vivid mercy across many dimensions: compassion (deep sympathy in action), grace (unmerited favor), long-suffering (slow to anger), and abundant mercy and truth (reliable, faithful mercy). The prayer is anchored in confident affirmation: despite the psalmist’s difficulties, God’s nature remains constant and trustworthy. This set of attributes would be a powerful corrective to anxiety, fear, or despair, offering a theological lens through which to interpret suffering and injustice.
Theologically, the verse summarizes core biblical attributes of God that inform worship and ethics: mercy that meets need, grace that saves, patience that endures, faithfulness that sins and truth. These traits shape how believers understand divine action in history and in personal life. It invites worship that both celebrates God’s character and imitates it—showing mercy and patience to others, walking in truth, and trusting in God’s steadfast love even when life is hard. It also connects with Christology in Christian tradition, where Jesus reveals the fullness of God’s compassion, grace, and truth in person.
Let God’s compassionate, gracious, patient, merciful, and truthful nature reshape how you respond to people who frustrate you, mistakes you’ve made, or sins you’ve committed. Practice grace: when someone hurts you, choose a calm, merciful response; when you fail, extend mercy to yourself and seek restoration. Be patient in tough conversations; give others the benefit of the doubt while holding to truth. Let truth guide your actions—integrity in decisions, honesty in relationships, and faithfulness in commitments. This verse invites you to reflect God’s character in your own life, turning your experiences of God’s mercy into mercy toward others.
Cross-References: Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 103:8-12; Joel 2:13; Lamentations 3:22-23; Titus 3:4-7