Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 86:4

"Rejoice the soul of thy servant; For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul." — Psalms 86:4 (ASV)

Rejoice the soul of thy servant - Cause me to rejoice; namely, by your gracious intervention, and by delivering me from danger and death.

For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul - Compare the notes at Psalm 24:4. The idea is that of arousing himself, or exerting himself, as one does who makes strenuous efforts to obtain an object.

He was not languid or indifferent; he did not put forth merely weak and fitful efforts to find God, but he bent his whole powers to that end. He rouses himself thoroughly to seek the divine help.

Languid and feeble efforts in seeking after God will be attended with no success. In so great a matter—when so much depends on the divine favor, when such great interests are at stake—the whole soul should be roused to one great and strenuous effort.

This is not because we can obtain His favor by force or power, nor because any strength of ours will prevail of itself, but:

1. because nothing less will indicate the proper intensity of desire; and
2. because such is His appointment regarding the manner in which we are to seek His favor.

Compare Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 13:24; Luke 16:16.