God’s nearness and attentive care offer the believer the swiftest, sweetest rescue in every hard season.
When the psalmist cries out, “O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help!” (v.12), his plea conveys both urgent desperation and humble dependence upon the Lord’s presence. By earnestly asking God not to be distant, the psalmist acknowledges that divine nearness is our true hope in times of trouble. The words “hasten to my help!” show a deep trust that the same God who rescues and redeems will act swiftly, reflecting a confident expectation that divine aid is never delayed beyond what the Lord, in His goodness, has appointed.
Throughout Psalm 71, the writer repeatedly turns to God as a steadfast refuge, just as believers in every generation have done when human helps fail. Commentary on Exodus 15:4 connects our attention to Psalm 71:19, where the psalmist magnifies God’s matchless character, saying that no one is like the Lord. It is the same incomparable Lord the psalmist implores in Psalm 71:12—One whose power parted seas and led His people through impossible challenges, and who likewise offers personal deliverance in our most pressing crises. This verse conveys a sacred tension: an honest cry amid trouble, yet a deep-seated confidence that God’s help is sure.
In looking for the Lord’s immediate response, the psalmist invites us to voice our own pleas without hesitation, trusting that Heaven hears and cares. Elsewhere, Scripture teaches that our cries for help are not merely words but heartfelt acts of worship, affirming God’s authority over every circumstance. His faithfulness—the same faithfulness demonstrated from the Red Sea to the psalmist’s situation—offers a present solace for all who call upon Him in faith.
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Psalms 71:12 meaning
When the psalmist cries out, “O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help!” (v.12), his plea conveys both urgent desperation and humble dependence upon the Lord’s presence. By earnestly asking God not to be distant, the psalmist acknowledges that divine nearness is our true hope in times of trouble. The words “hasten to my help!” show a deep trust that the same God who rescues and redeems will act swiftly, reflecting a confident expectation that divine aid is never delayed beyond what the Lord, in His goodness, has appointed.
Throughout Psalm 71, the writer repeatedly turns to God as a steadfast refuge, just as believers in every generation have done when human helps fail. Commentary on Exodus 15:4 connects our attention to Psalm 71:19, where the psalmist magnifies God’s matchless character, saying that no one is like the Lord. It is the same incomparable Lord the psalmist implores in Psalm 71:12—One whose power parted seas and led His people through impossible challenges, and who likewise offers personal deliverance in our most pressing crises. This verse conveys a sacred tension: an honest cry amid trouble, yet a deep-seated confidence that God’s help is sure.
In looking for the Lord’s immediate response, the psalmist invites us to voice our own pleas without hesitation, trusting that Heaven hears and cares. Elsewhere, Scripture teaches that our cries for help are not merely words but heartfelt acts of worship, affirming God’s authority over every circumstance. His faithfulness—the same faithfulness demonstrated from the Red Sea to the psalmist’s situation—offers a present solace for all who call upon Him in faith.