Psalms 35:22
You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 35:22
You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
David turns his enemies' taunt ("our eye has seen it") into a bold assertion: God has also seen everything – their malice, his suffering. He's not just asking God to notice, but to act, pushing back against the silence that makes God seem distant.
The psalmist is crying out because his enemies are rejoicing in his suffering, falsely claiming victory and even mocking him. He appeals to God, reminding Him that He has seen all the injustice and the wicked delight in his downfall. These verses follow a direct accusation against his enemies and precede a passionate plea for God to intervene and vindicate him.
Your enemies might be celebrating, convinced they've 'won.' But have you ever felt like God is silent in the face of their injustice?
David, facing deep opposition, cries out, 'You have seen, O LORD!' This isn't just an observation; it's a profound declaration of faith.
God's All-Seeing Eye
When injustice strikes, our instinct is often to flee or hide. David's cry, however, is for God to draw NEAR.
The second half of the verse, 'be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!', is a powerful plea for divine intervention.
More Than Just Hearing
Understand the original words
Yhwh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the one true God of Israel, indicating His covenant-keeping nature and eternal existence. He is the self-existent One who enters into a redemptive relationship with His people.
Adonai · Hebrew Noun
A title denoting sovereignty, authority, and lordship. It expresses God's right to rule over His creation and His people.
charash · Hebrew Verb
To be silent or inactive; in this context, it refers to a plea for God to break His perceived inaction and demonstrate His presence through intervention.
This psalm reflects the deep anguish and betrayal David experienced, likely during the turmoil of his reign, particularly during Absalom's rebellion. The plea to God highlights the personal devastation of suffering injustices, knowing God sees but desperately needing His intervention.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign and Rise
David, a shepherd boy, defeats Goliath and becomes a hero and later king of Israel. His reign is marked by military victories, consolidating the kingdom, and establishing Jerusalem as its capital.
c. 970 BC— this verse
David's Transgression with Bathsheba
David commits adultery with Bathsheba and arranges for her husband Uriah's death. This sin leads to significant turmoil and divine judgment within his family and kingdom.
c. 970-931 BC
Absalom's Rebellion
David's son Absalom leads a rebellion against his father, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. This period is characterized by betrayal, civil strife, and deep personal anguish for David.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. This division leads to centuries of conflict and instability.
This passage also cries out to God not to be silent, showing this is a common plea when feeling overwhelmed and unheard by enemies.
Psalms 22:11This verse echoes the desperate plea, 'be not far from me,' highlighting a recurring theme of seeking God's presence during intense suffering.
Job 3:11Job's lament about his birth, while different in expression, shares the theme of wishing for an end to suffering and questioning why life continued amidst pain.
Jeremiah 20:11Jeremiah expresses confidence that God is with him like a mighty warrior, providing a contrasting picture of divine presence that the Psalmist yearns for here.
Habakkuk 1:2Habakkuk's cry, 'How long, O LORD, shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?' directly parallels the distress of feeling God's silence in the face of injustice.
calvinPsalms 35:19-23: "Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause."
- Let not those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink with the eye. 20. For they speak not peace; [719] but devise deceitful words upon the clefts of the earth. 21. They have opened their mouth against me: they have said, Aha! aha! our eye hath seen it. [720] 22. O Jehovah! thou hast also…
cambridgePsalms 35:22: "This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me."
22 . He turns their taunt into a plea: Thou hast seen, O Jehovah. Cp. Psalm 35:17 , note. keep not silence ] The same word as in Psalm 28:1 , where R.V. renders, be not thou deaf unto me . With be not far from me , cp. Psalm 22:11 ; &c.
David turns his enemies' taunt ("our eye has seen it") into a bold assertion: God has also seen everything – their malice, his suffering. He's not just asking God to notice, but to act, pushing back against the silence that makes God seem distant.
The psalmist is crying out because his enemies are rejoicing in his suffering, falsely claiming victory and even mocking him. He appeals to God, reminding Him that He has seen all the injustice and the wicked delight in his downfall. These verses follow a direct accusation against his enemies and precede a passionate plea for God to intervene and vindicate him.
The psalmist is crying out because his enemies are rejoicing in his suffering, falsely claiming victory and even mocking him. He appeals to God, reminding Him that He has seen all the injustice and the wicked delight in his downfall. These verses follow a direct accusation against his enemies and precede a passionate plea for God to intervene and vindicate him.
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"You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!" — David turns his enemies' taunt ("our eye has seen it") into a bold assertion: God has also seen everything – their malice, his suffering. He's not just asking God to notice, but to act, pushing bac…