Psalms 55:1
Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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David is not just asking God to listen, but to actively turn towards him, contrasting with the idea of God shutting His eyes or ears. He's pleading for God not to be like an indifferent observer or a judge who turns away in displeasure, but to engage with his desperate plea for mercy.
This psalm opens with David in deep distress, feeling surrounded by enemies and betrayed by someone he considered a close friend. He's not just facing external threats but also the agony of treachery, leading him to desperately cry out to God, pleading for His attention and presence.
Understand the original words
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.
Psalm 55 vividly captures the raw anguish of betrayal and desperate need for divine intervention, likely penned during the turmoil of Absalom's rebellion when David faced not only external enemies but also the heartbreaking treachery of those close to him.
c. 1020 BC
Saul's Persecution of David
King Saul, consumed by jealousy, relentlessly pursued David, forcing him into hiding and constant flight. This period marked intense fear and betrayal for David.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Absalom's Rebellion
David's own son, Absalom, incited a rebellion against him, leading to civil war and David's temporary flight from Jerusalem. This rebellion involved treachery from within David's own court.
c. 1000 BC
David Flees Jerusalem
Facing the imminent threat of Absalom's forces and betrayal from trusted advisors, David was forced to abandon his capital city in desperate circumstances.
This passage echoes the same desperate plea for God not to hide his face, highlighting a recurring theme of seeking God's presence even in deep distress.
Psalms 27:9This verse directly appeals to God not to 'hide your face' or 'forsake' the psalmist, reinforcing the plea in Psalms 55:1 for God's attentive presence and help.
Psalms 69:17Here, the psalmist cries out 'Do not hide your face from your servant!' similar to Psalms 55:1, showing that feeling abandoned by God is a profound and frequent sorrow for those in deep trouble.
Lamentations 3:56This verse speaks of God hearing a cry from the depths, and then the prophet states, 'you heard my cry,' which parallels the desire in Psalms 55:1 for God to truly hear and not turn away.
Isaiah 58:9This prophetic passage assures that if people cry out to God, He will respond with 'Here I am,' offering a powerful contrast to the fear of God hiding, and confirming God's willingness to be found when earnestly sought.
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 is not just asking God to listen, but to actively turn towards him, contrasting with the idea of God shutting His eyes or ears. He's pleading for God not to be like an indifferent observer or a judge who turns away in displeasure, but to engage with his desperate plea for mercy.
This psalm opens with David in deep distress, feeling surrounded by enemies and betrayed by someone he considered a close friend. He's not just facing external threats but also the agony of treachery, leading him to desperately cry out to God, pleading for His attention and presence.
This psalm opens with David in deep distress, feeling surrounded by enemies and betrayed by someone he considered a close friend. He's not just facing external threats but also the agony of treachery, leading him to desperately cry out to God, pleading for His attention and presence.
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"Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!" — David is not just asking God to listen, but to actively turn towards him, contrasting with the idea of God shutting His eyes or ears. He's pleading for God not to be like an indifferent observer or a…
