Psalms 69:17
Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The psalmist doesn't just say he's in trouble; he calls himself God's "servant." This isn't a plea for pity based on his suffering alone, but a reminder of his established relationship and loyalty, implying God has a vested interest in the well-being of those devoted to Him. This identity as a servant becomes a powerful argument for God to intervene quickly.
The psalmist is in deep distress, feeling overwhelmed by enemies and troubles that threaten to consume him. He's pleading with God for swift deliverance, appealing to God's mercy and reminding Him that he is God's servant. The surrounding verses depict a desperate situation, where the psalmist feels abandoned and is crying out for God's intervention before he sinks completely.
Ever feel like God's presence has disappeared when you're in deep trouble? This psalm cries out for God not to turn away.
The phrase 'hide not your face' is a powerful plea. It’s more than just asking for attention; it's a deep cry for the presence of God. When God hides His face, it feels like abandonment, like His favor and help have been withdrawn.
In the midst of distress, the psalmist isn't just asking for a solution, but for the person of God to be near. This shows us that our greatest need in hard times isn't just relief, but the reassuring presence of the Almighty himself.
When you're in a jam, waiting feels impossible. This psalm is a raw, urgent cry for God to act now.
The psalmist declares, 'for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.' This isn't about impatience; it's about the severity of the situation.
Understand the original words
tsar · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A state of being in narrow, tight circumstances, symbolizing extreme difficulty, anguish, or tribulation that traps an individual.
While Psalm 69 is attributed to David, many scholars see echoes of the deep distress and longing for divine intervention that characterized the Babylonian Exile. The intense suffering and plea for God not to 'hide his face' resonate powerfully with the experience of a people displaced and disoriented from their homeland and worship.
c. 587 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian army, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquers Jerusalem, destroys the First Temple, and deports a significant portion of the population to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
586 BC - 538 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Judean people live in exile in Babylon, experiencing loss of homeland, temple worship, and national sovereignty. This period profoundly shaped their religious and cultural identity.
539 BC
Cyrus's Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
538 BC onwards
Return from Exile
Under Cyrus's decree, many Judeans return to Jerusalem and begin the process of rebuilding the Temple and restoring their community. This marks the beginning of the Second Temple period.
This passage also pleads with God not to hide His face, emphasizing the deep distress of the Psalmist and the urgency of their need.
Psalms 44:24Here, the Psalmist cries out to God to awake, mirroring the distress and sense of abandonment expressed in Psalm 69:17.
Isaiah 54:8While not a direct plea, this verse speaks of God's temporary hiding of His face and His subsequent compassionate return, providing a contrast and hope for the one crying out in distress.
Luke 18:7-8Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow who seeks justice from an unjust judge, highlighting the theme of 'crying out day and night' and questioning if the Son of Man will find such persistent faith when he returns, echoing the urgency of Psalm 69:17.
Hebrews 5:7This verse describes Jesus offering 'prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears' to the one who was able to save him from death, reflecting the deep distress and earnest pleas found in Psalm 69:17.
calvinPsalms 69:14-18: "Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters."
- Deliver me from the mire, that I may not sink: let me be delivered from my adversaries, and from the deep waters. 15. Let not the flood of waters overflow me; and let not the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit [82] close its mouth upon me. 16. Answer me, O Jehovah! for thy mercy [83] is good: in the multitude of thy compassions [84] look upon me. 1…
cambridgePsalms 69:17: "And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily."
17 . The Psalmist pleads his calling: surely God cannot continue to withhold His favour and help from one who is bound to His service and devoted to His cause. The plea would have special force if the Psalmist was a prophet like Jeremiah ( Amos 3:7 ). Cp. Psalm 27:9 ; Psalm 31:16 ; Psalm 44:24 ; &c. for I am in trouble &c.] Because I am in a strait, answer me speedily.
The psalmist doesn't just say he's in trouble; he calls himself God's "servant." This isn't a plea for pity based on his suffering alone, but a reminder of his established relationship and loyalty, implying God has a vested interest in the well-being of those devoted to Him. This identity as a servant becomes a powerful argument for God to intervene quickly.
The psalmist is in deep distress, feeling overwhelmed by enemies and troubles that threaten to consume him. He's pleading with God for swift deliverance, appealing to God's mercy and reminding Him that he is God's servant. The surrounding verses depict a desperate situation, where the psalmist feels abandoned and is crying out for God's intervention before he sinks completely.
The psalmist is in deep distress, feeling overwhelmed by enemies and troubles that threaten to consume him. He's pleading with God for swift deliverance, appealing to God's mercy and reminding Him that he is God's servant. The surrounding verses depict a desperate situation, where the psalmist feels abandoned and is crying out for God's intervention before he sinks completely.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 69:17 is available in the Sola app.
"Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me." — The psalmist doesn't just say he's in trouble; he calls himself God's "servant." This isn't a plea for pity based on his suffering alone, but a reminder of his established relationship and loyalty, i…
