Psalm 86 · a question people ask
"You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol" (86:13). Had the psalmist died?
The psalm doesn't say how he was delivered, and it doesn't say he died. What it says: "For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol" (86:13) (tap lowest). The WEB keeps the Hebrew word Sheol. In the very next verse he says, "A company of violent men have sought after my soul" (86:14), and two verses on he is still asking, "Save the son of your servant" (86:16). So the same prayer that speaks of being delivered from the lowest Sheol also asks to be saved. The WEB has the lowest Sheol in one other verse, in the song Moses spoke (Deuteronomy 31:30), where the LORD says (Deuteronomy 32:19-20), "For a fire is kindled in my anger, that burns to the lowest Sheol" (Deuteronomy 32:22). Psalm 30 speaks in a similar way, "LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol" (Psalm 30:3), and the chapter on Psalm 30 looks at how it says it; the chapter on Psalm 16 has an honest question on Sheol (Psalm 16:10). No New Testament verse quotes 86:13, and these notes draw no line from it to Jesus' rising.
The verses
“For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol. God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, and they don’t hold regard for you before them.”
“Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your servant.”
“Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished.”
“LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol. You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.”