Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
English Standard Version (ESV)
David isn't just asking God to listen; he's pleading with God not to turn away, fearing God might become like an unconcerned observer or even an offended stranger, especially when his enemies are falsely accusing him.
Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is in deep distress, facing intense persecution and betrayal, likely from someone he once considered a close friend. This psalm captures his raw desperation as he turns to God, pleading for attention and intervention amidst the chaos and false accusations being hurled against him. He’s not just asking for help, but for God not to seem absent or indifferent to his suffering.
Ever feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling? David did too. This psalm opens with an almost desperate plea for God to simply listen.
David, a man known for his deep faith, feels the weight of intense distress in Psalm 55:1. The commentary highlights that this isn't just a casual request; it's born from a place of great "earnestness" and "affliction." The psalmist is surrounded by danger and betrayal, and he understands that his only hope lies in God's attention. He knows that turning to anyone else would be futile. This sets the tone for the entire psalm: a raw cry from the heart when all other avenues feel closed. The repetition of prayer and supplication isn't about nagging God, but about the sheer intensity of his need and his conviction that God is his only resource.
What's worse than facing enemies? It's facing them while feeling like God Himself has turned away.
The phrase 'hide not thyself from my plea for mercy' reveals a deep pain. It's not just about not hearing; it's about God appearing to be inaccessible, absent, or unconcerned. Commentators point out this can feel like God is 'shutting the eyes upon' the pleas, refusing to 'look upon' or grant access. This is a figurative way of expressing the terrifying experience of spiritual drought, where God's presence seems withdrawn, leaving the person feeling exposed and alone in their suffering. David is pleading that God would not act as if he were deaf or displeased, but would instead grant open access and engagement.
Understand the original words
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azan · Hebrew Verb
To incline the ear denotes a posture of divine attention, acknowledging that God hears the cries of His people and is actively concerned with their circumstances. It serves as a plea for God to act according to His covenant faithfulness.
techinnah · Hebrew Noun
A divine petition for grace, acknowledging that the petitioner has no claim on God based on merit, but appeals solely to His compassion and steadfast love. It is the posture of a sinner or sufferer recognizing their need for God's intervention.
While this psalm could reflect David's earlier persecution by Saul, the depth of betrayal and the need for God's immediate intervention strongly suggest it was written during Absalom's rebellion, a time when even those closest to David turned against him.
c. 1020-1000 BC
Saul Persecutes David
King Saul, driven by jealousy and insecurity, relentlessly hunts David, forcing him into hiding and constant flight. This period of intense danger and betrayal likely contributed to many of David's psalms expressing distress.
c. 980-970 BC— this verse
Absalom's Rebellion
David's own son, Absalom, leads a widespread rebellion against him, eventually forcing David to flee Jerusalem. This upheaval involved betrayal by trusted advisors and immense personal anguish.
This psalm echoes the desperate plea of Psalm 55:1, directly asking, 'How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?'
Psalms 27:9Here, the psalmist also cries out for God not to hide His face, highlighting a recurring theme of seeking God's presence and help in times of distress.
Psalms 69:17This passage is a parallel cry for God to 'hide not your face from your servant,' underscoring the deep need for divine attention when facing overwhelming troubles.
Isaiah 55:6This verse offers a profound contrast and a promise: 'Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.' It reassures us that when we genuinely call out, God is not hiding but is actively present and accessible.
Luke 18:1-7Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, who continues to plead with an unjust judge. This parable emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer, much like David’s urgent plea in Psalm 55:1, and assures us that God will ultimately hear and answer His elect.
gillPsalms 55:1: "To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication."
Give ear to my prayer, O God,.... Which was for that which is just and right, and equitable to be given, as the word (n) used signifies; being promised in the covenant of grace, ratified and confirmed by the blood of Christ, Not only David was a man much given to prayer, as well as was the sweet psalmist of Israel; but the Messiah, as man, was muc…
clarkePsalms 55:1: "To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication."
Give ear to my prayer - The frequency of such petitions shows the great earnestness of David's soul. If God did not hear and help, he knew he could not succeed elsewhere; therefore he continues to knock at the gate of God's mercy.
David isn't just asking God to listen; he's pleading with God not to turn away, fearing God might become like an unconcerned observer or even an offended stranger, especially when his enemies are falsely accusing him.
David is in deep distress, facing intense persecution and betrayal, likely from someone he once considered a close friend. This psalm captures his raw desperation as he turns to God, pleading for attention and intervention amidst the chaos and false accusations being hurled against him. He’s not just asking for help, but for God not to seem absent or indifferent to his suffering.
David is in deep distress, facing intense persecution and betrayal, likely from someone he once considered a close friend. This psalm captures his raw desperation as he turns to God, pleading for attention and intervention amidst the chaos and false accusations being hurled against him. He’s not just asking for help, but for God not to seem absent or indifferent to his suffering.
"Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!" — David isn't just asking God to listen; he's pleading with God not to turn away, fearing God might become like an unconcerned observer or even an offended stranger, especially when his enemies are f…
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Last reviewed October 2026