Ps. 86 is a psalm of great beauty and sweetness, pervaded with a spirit of tender piety. It has no clear line of thought progression, but consists rather of an interrelated succession of outbursts of petition, praise, and gratitude. Its character suggests such varying moods as supplication, penitence, confession of faith, and praise. The psalm is especially note-worthy in giving reasons for prayer and for the surety of the answer to prayers.