John Calvin Commentary Psalms 86:3

"Be merciful unto me, O Lord; For unto thee do I cry all the day long." — Psalms 86:3 (ASV)

Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah! The Psalmist again turns to the mercy of God. The word חנן, chanan, which I have translated as have mercy, essentially means to gratify, or to show favor. It is as if he had said, "I bring no merit of my own, but humbly pray for deliverance solely based on Your mercy."

When he speaks of crying daily, it is a proof of his hope and confidence, which we discussed a little earlier. The word cry, as I have already frequently remarked, denotes vehemence and earnestness of soul. Indeed, the saints do not always pray with a loud voice; rather, their secret sighs and groanings resound and echo upward, ascending from their hearts and penetrating even to heaven.

The inspired suppliant portrays himself not only as crying but also as persevering in it. This teaches us that he was not discouraged by the first or second challenge, but continued in prayer with untiring earnestness.

In the following verse, he expresses more definitely the purpose for which he pleaded with God to be merciful to him: that his sorrow might be removed. In the second clause, he declares that there was no hypocrisy in his crying, for he lifted up his soul to God, which is the chief characteristic of right prayer.