Psalms 71:12

12 Don't stay so far away, O God; my God, hurry to my aid!

Psalms 71:12 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 71:12

O God, be not far from me
God is everywhere, at hand and afar off, with regard to his being, power, and providence; his glorious presence is in heaven, his gracious presence is with his people; but, when he hides his face, he seems to be at a distance; and this they cannot bear, and therefore deprecate it; see ( Psalms 10:1 ) ;

O my God, make haste for my help;
he knew that his help was in God, and that there was none for him elsewhere; and that he could help him when none else could, and was a present help in time of trouble; and it being such a time with him, and his case desperate, he desires the Lord that he would make haste; and he addresses him as his own God, the consideration of which encouraged his faith and hope in him, and carried in it an argument to help him; see ( Psalms 119:94 ) .

Psalms 71:12 In-Context

10 My enemies want to kill me; they talk and plot against me.
11 They say, "God has abandoned him; let's go after him and catch him; there is no one to rescue him."
12 Don't stay so far away, O God; my God, hurry to my aid!
13 May those who attack me be defeated and destroyed. May those who try to hurt me be shamed and disgraced.
14 I will always put my hope in you; I will praise you more and more.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.