O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
English Standard Version (ESV)
David isn't just starting a prayer here; he's escalating an already urgent one. The plea to "make haste" isn't a request for a casual check-in, but an desperate cry for immediate intervention, revealing the sheer extremity of his situation.
O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This Psalm bursts forth in urgent prayer from a place of deep trouble, likely David fleeing from enemies like Saul. He isn't just casually asking for help, but crying out in desperation, pleading with God to rush to his aid. The verses immediately following reveal a prayer focused on guarding his speech and avoiding the temptations that arise from his perilous situation.
When life feels like it's falling apart, where do you turn? David's cry in this Psalm reveals a powerful truth about desperate situations.
A Prayer Born of Crisis
David doesn't begin this Psalm with calm reflection, but with an urgent cry: "O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!" This isn't a casual request; it's the desperate plea of someone in deep trouble.
The scholars point out that David was likely facing intense persecution. He recognized his own inability to escape and that only God could intervene swiftly. The repetition of "I call" and "I cry" emphasizes the intensity and the ongoing nature of his distress.
What This Means for Us:
Why did David implore God to 'make haste'? It's more than just impatience; it reveals a profound understanding of God's power and his own vulnerability.
The Urgency of 'Hasten'
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The command "make haste unto me" is packed with meaning. It’s not that God is slow or unwilling, but that David perceives the extreme danger he is in. Delay could mean defeat, ruin, or falling into sin.
Practical Application:
When we ask God to 'hasten,' we are acknowledging:
What does it truly mean for God to 'give ear' to our prayers? It's far more than just hearing the sound.
More Than Just Hearing
David asks God to "Give ear to my voice when I cry to you!" This is a request not just for God to hear him, but to heed him – to pay attention with the intent to respond.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existence, faithfulness, and His commitment to His people. It is the name by which He revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush.
This psalm bursts with the raw urgency of someone in deep crisis, pleading with God for immediate rescue. The backdrop of David's desperate flight from King Saul explains the palpable need for God to 'hasten' and 'give ear,' as delay could mean capture or worse.
c. 1020-1010 BC— this verse
David's Persecution by Saul
King Saul, consumed by jealousy and fear, relentlessly hunted David, forcing him to live as a fugitive. This period of intense danger and uncertainty shaped many of David's psalms.
c. 1010 BC
David Spares Saul's Life at En Gedi
David had the opportunity to kill Saul in a cave but chose to spare him, demonstrating his respect for God's anointed. This event highlights David's moral struggles amidst persecution.
c. 1010 BC
David Spares Saul Again in the Wilderness of Ziph
David and his men again had Saul at their mercy but chose not to harm him, further emphasizing David's commitment to God's timing and justice.
c. 1004 BC
David Becomes King of Judah
After years of fleeing Saul, David was finally anointed king over the tribe of Judah. This marked a significant shift in his fortunes, though the struggle for the entire kingdom continued.
This verse echoes the same urgent plea for God to 'make haste' and 'help,' highlighting a consistent theme of desperate reliance on God in times of trouble found throughout the Psalms.
Psalms 22:19Here, David explicitly pleads 'But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!' mirroring the immediate need for God's presence expressed in Psalm 141:1.
Luke 18:7Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, emphasizing that God 'will grant justice to them, quickly' when they cry out to Him, showing that urgent prayer is a pattern God responds to.
Proverbs 1:28This passage presents a contrasting scenario where those who neglected God will call on Him but He will not answer, underscoring the vital importance of the sincere and timely calling described in Psalm 141:1.
pulpitPsalms 141:1: "<> LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee."
Verse 1. - Lord, I cry unto thee; make haste unto me. The need is pressing and urgent. God is therefore entreated to "hasten" (comp. Psalm 22:19; Psalm 31:2; Psalm 38:22; Psalm 40:17, etc.). Give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee (comp. Psalm 102:2).
clarkePsalms 141:1: "A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee."
Lord, I cry unto thee - Many of David's Psalms begin with complaints; but they are not those of habitual plaint and peevishness. He was in frequent troubles and difficulties, and he always sought help in God. He ever appears in earnest; at no time is there any evidence that the devotion of David was formal. He prayed, meditated, supplicated, groaned, cried, and even roared,…
David isn't just starting a prayer here; he's escalating an already urgent one. The plea to "make haste" isn't a request for a casual check-in, but an desperate cry for immediate intervention, revealing the sheer extremity of his situation.
This Psalm bursts forth in urgent prayer from a place of deep trouble, likely David fleeing from enemies like Saul. He isn't just casually asking for help, but crying out in desperation, pleading with God to rush to his aid. The verses immediately following reveal a prayer focused on guarding his speech and avoiding the temptations that arise from his perilous situation.
This Psalm bursts forth in urgent prayer from a place of deep trouble, likely David fleeing from enemies like Saul. He isn't just casually asking for help, but crying out in desperation, pleading with God to rush to his aid. The verses immediately following reveal a prayer focused on guarding his speech and avoiding the temptations that arise from his perilous situation.
"O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!" — David isn't just starting a prayer here; he's escalating an already urgent one. The plea to "make haste" isn't a request for a casual check-in, but an desperate cry for immediate intervention, reveal…
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Last reviewed October 2026