Psalms 109:1

KJV

¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

KJV (with Strong's)

To the chief Musician {H5329}, A Psalm {H4210} of David {H1732}. Hold not thy peace {H2790}, O God {H430} of my praise {H8416};

Complete Jewish Bible

For the leader. A psalm of David: God, whom I praise, don't remain silent!

Berean Standard Bible

O God of my praise, be not silent.

American Standard Version

Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 109:1 opens one of the most intense and emotionally charged psalms attributed to King David, setting the stage for a profound cry to God in a time of deep distress and betrayal. This verse is a direct and urgent appeal from a heart burdened by suffering and injustice, seeking divine intervention and imploring God to break His perceived silence. It establishes the psalmist's unwavering trust in God as the ultimate object of his praise, even amidst overwhelming adversity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** The superscription, "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David," indicates this psalm was intended for public worship and musical performance, reflecting its significance for the community of faith. Attributed to David, it aligns with many of his psalms that express personal anguish, lament, and prayers for deliverance from enemies. Psalm 109 is notably an imprecatory psalm, meaning it contains strong petitions for God's judgment against adversaries, particularly from [Psalms 109:6](/psalms/109-6 "Psalm 109:6 - A Prayer for Judgment"). Verse 1 serves as the foundational plea, an urgent appeal for God to break His silence, before the detailed accusations and curses that follow, revealing the psalmist's desperate need for God to act.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Attributed to King David, this psalm likely stems from a period of intense personal persecution or profound betrayal, scenarios that were common throughout David's life, such as his flight from Saul or the rebellion of Absalom. In the ancient Near East, laments and appeals for divine justice were common expressions, reflecting a worldview where gods were expected to intervene in human affairs, especially to uphold righteousness and punish wickedness. The designation "To the chief Musician" suggests its use in temple liturgy, indicating that even deeply personal laments were integrated into communal worship, allowing the community to identify with the psalmist's struggles and prayers for divine vindication.
* **Key Themes:** This opening verse immediately introduces several key themes. The urgent cry, "Hold not thy peace," highlights the theme of **divine silence and the longing for intervention**, a common motif in laments where the righteous suffer. The phrase "O God of my praise" underscores the theme of **unwavering trust and devotion** to God, even in profound distress, demonstrating that the psalmist's faith remains steadfast despite his circumstances. Furthermore, it sets the stage for the broader theme of **justice for the persecuted**, which is central to the [book of Psalms](/psalms "The Book of Psalms - Songs of Israel") as a whole. The psalmist, feeling unjustly afflicted, appeals to God as the ultimate source of righteousness and vindication, echoing similar cries found in passages like [Psalms 7:8](/psalms/7-8 "Psalm 7:8 - Judge Me, O Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hold not thy peace (Hebrew, _'al-techerash'_):** This imperative verb phrase literally translates to "do not be silent" or "do not be deaf." It is an impassioned, almost desperate plea, indicating the psalmist's profound distress over God's perceived inaction or silence in the face of intense suffering and injustice. It implies a longing for God not merely to hear, but to actively respond and intervene in a tangible way.
* **God of my praise (Hebrew, _'Elohei tehillati'_):** This deeply personal and relational phrase identifies God as the ultimate object of the psalmist's worship, adoration, and thanksgiving. _'Elohei'_ (God of) signifies a possessive or covenantal relationship, while _'tehillati'_ (my praise) refers to the psalmist's personal act of praise. It asserts that despite current anguish, God remains the One worthy of all praise, and from whom the psalmist expects vindication and salvation, grounding the desperate plea in a foundation of faith and covenantal expectation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David."**: This superscription serves as an editorial note, providing crucial contextual information. It attributes the psalm to David, indicating its royal and prophetic voice. The instruction "To the chief Musician" suggests its liturgical purpose and musical setting, signifying its intended use in public worship and its communal relevance, despite its intensely personal nature.
* **"Hold not thy peace,"**: This is a direct, urgent, and fervent imperative addressed to God. It expresses the psalmist's profound anguish over God's apparent silence or inaction in the face of severe suffering and injustice. It is a desperate cry for God to break His perceived silence and intervene actively and decisively in the psalmist's dire situation.
* **"O God of my praise;"**: This vocative phrase identifies the specific nature of the psalmist's relationship with God. By calling God "the God of my praise," the psalmist reaffirms his unwavering devotion and trust, even in the midst of his anguish. It suggests that God, who is worthy of all praise, is also the one from whom the psalmist expects deliverance and vindication, grounding the desperate plea in a foundation of enduring faith.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological impact. The direct address, "O God," is a clear example of **Apostrophe**, establishing an immediate and intimate dialogue with the divine. The phrase "Hold not thy peace" utilizes **Personification**, attributing the human action of "holding peace" or silence to God, thereby vividly conveying the psalmist's perception of divine inaction. This also functions as a profound **Lament**, a common genre in the Psalms, where the psalmist expresses deep distress and appeals to God for help. The title "God of my praise" is a form of **Appellation** or **Epithet**, a descriptive title that highlights a specific attribute or relationship of God, reinforcing the psalmist's deep trust and devotion even in dire circumstances. The entire verse serves as a powerful **Invocation**, calling upon God at the outset of a prayer, setting the tone for the intense plea for justice that follows.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 109:1 introduces a profound theological tension: the suffering of the righteous and the perceived silence of God, juxtaposed with unwavering faith in God's character as the object of all praise. This tension is a recurring theme throughout biblical literature, exploring how believers grapple with injustice and divine timing. The psalmist's plea is not one of doubt in God's existence or power, but an earnest cry for God to manifest His justice and faithfulness in a tangible way, demonstrating that even in the deepest anguish, true worship continues to be directed towards the one true God. This verse sets the stage for a dramatic appeal for vindication, rooted in a deep, covenantal relationship.

* [Psalms 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?")
* [Habakkuk 1:2](/habakkuk/1-2 "Habakkuk 1:2 - How Long, O Lord?")
* [Isaiah 64:12](/isaiah/64-12 "Isaiah 64:12 - Will You Hold Yourself Back, O Lord?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 109:1 serves as a powerful reminder that authentic faith allows for raw, honest expression before God, even when we feel He is silent or slow to act. The psalmist's desperate plea to "Hold not thy peace" validates our own moments of spiritual anguish, betrayal, or perceived abandonment. It teaches us that lament is not a sign of weak faith, but a deeply biblical and healthy way to process pain, trusting that God, whom we still call "the God of my praise," is faithful and hears our cries, even if His response is not immediate or in the manner we expect. This verse encourages persistence in prayer, reminding us that our identity as worshippers of God remains constant, regardless of our circumstances, and that our praise can be both a desperate cry and an act of profound trust.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel God has been silent, and how does David's plea resonate with your own experience?**
* **How can you continue to praise God as "the God of your praise" even when you are experiencing deep distress or injustice?**
* **What does this verse teach you about the nature of honest prayer and the permission to express raw emotions to God?**

### FAQ
**Is it appropriate for believers to pray "imprecatory" psalms like Psalm 109?**

Answer: While the imprecations in Psalm 109 can be unsettling, Psalm 109:1 itself is a lament, a cry for divine intervention. The broader context of imprecatory psalms (like [Psalms 109](/psalms/109 "Psalm 109 - A Plea for Vengeance")) must be understood within the ancient Near Eastern legal and covenantal framework, where appeals for justice were directed to God, the ultimate judge. These psalms express a righteous indignation against evil and a longing for God's justice to prevail, rather than a personal desire for revenge. For New Testament believers, while we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (as taught in [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")), these psalms still serve to validate our feelings of pain and injustice, reminding us that God is indeed a righteous judge and that ultimate justice belongs to Him. They teach us to commit our grievances to God, trusting Him to execute justice in His perfect timing and way, rather than taking matters into our own hands.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 109:1, with its raw plea for God to "Hold not thy peace," finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David cried out in personal anguish, Jesus, the perfect Man, experienced the ultimate betrayal and injustice, culminating in His cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). In that moment, the Father *did* hold His peace, allowing the full weight of humanity's sin to fall upon the Son, so that justice might be satisfied and salvation secured. Yet, Jesus also embodies the "God of my praise," as He perfectly glorified the Father in His life, death, and resurrection ([John 17:4](/john/17-4 "John 17:4 - Jesus Glorifies the Father")). His suffering and ultimate vindication (resurrection) demonstrate that God does not remain silent forever. Through Christ, the silence of judgment was broken by the triumph of grace, offering a new covenant where believers, though they may suffer, can always approach the [throne of grace with confidence](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace") because Jesus, our great High Priest, intercedes for us ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Jesus Intercedes for Us")). Thus, David's desperate plea points forward to the one who truly endured divine silence for our sake, and through whom God's ultimate justice and praise are revealed.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 28:1

¶ [A Psalm] of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, [if] thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

Deuteronomy 10:21

He [is] thy praise, and he [is] thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

Psalms 83:1

¶ A Song [or] Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

Exodus 15:2

The LORD [is] my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he [is] my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Psalms 35:22

[This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

Psalms 35:23

Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Isaiah 42:14

I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, [and] refrained myself: [now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.