Psalms 69:17

KJV

And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

KJV (with Strong's)

And hide {H5641}{H8686)} not thy face {H6440} from thy servant {H5650}; for I am in trouble {H6887}{H8804)}: hear {H6030}{H8798)} me speedily {H4118}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Don't hide your face from your servant, for I am in trouble; answer me quickly.

Berean Standard Bible

Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!

American Standard Version

And hide not thy face from thy servant; For I am in distress; answer me speedily.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 69:17 captures the psalmist's fervent plea to God in a moment of profound anguish, expressing a desperate longing for divine presence and immediate intervention. It encapsulates the deep human need for God's manifest favor and swift action when overwhelmed by tribulation, appealing to the covenant relationship between the Creator and His devoted servant.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 69 stands as one of the most significant and extended laments in the Psalter, often categorized as a "psalm of individual lament." It is a cry from one who feels utterly overwhelmed by enemies, misunderstood by friends, and even ostracized by his own family. The preceding verses vividly describe the psalmist sinking in deep mire, with floods of water sweeping over him, and his throat parched from crying out to God ([Psalms 69:1-3](/psalms/69-1 "Psalms 69:1-3 - Deep Waters of Affliction")). He is reviled for his devotion to God, bearing the reproach of those who hate God ([Psalms 69:7-9](/psalms/69-7 "Psalms 69:7-9 - Reproach for God's Sake")). Verse 17, therefore, emerges from a prolonged and intense description of suffering, making the plea for God's unhidden face and speedy response all the more poignant and urgent. The psalmist has exhausted human avenues and now turns solely to his divine Helper.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While traditionally attributed to David, Psalm 69 reflects a universal experience of intense persecution and isolation, common in the ancient Near East where communal identity and divine favor were paramount. To "hide one's face" was an idiom signifying displeasure, rejection, or abandonment, a terrifying prospect for someone in a covenant relationship with God. In contrast, God "making His face shine" upon someone signified blessing, favor, and protection, as seen in the Aaronic blessing ([Numbers 6:25](/numbers/6-25 "Numbers 6:25 - The Aaronic Blessing")). The psalmist's "trouble" (Hebrew: _tsarah_) was not merely inconvenience but severe distress, often involving physical danger, social ostracism, and emotional anguish from enemies and perceived divine silence. The concept of a "servant" (_eved_) carried deep meaning, implying a bond of loyalty, service, and reciprocal care within a master-servant relationship, which the psalmist appeals to.
* **Key Themes:** This psalm powerfully articulates several core themes. Firstly, the **desperate need for God's manifest presence** is central; the psalmist's greatest fear is God's perceived absence or withdrawal of favor, which feels as crushing as the affliction itself. This echoes the longing found in [Psalm 27:9](/psalms/27-9 "Psalm 27:9 - Do Not Hide Your Face"). Secondly, the theme of **urgent appeal for divine intervention** is prominent, highlighted by the plea to "hear me speedily." The psalmist's suffering is immediate and overwhelming, demanding a swift response from a God capable of instant deliverance. Thirdly, the psalm underscores **reliance on a covenant relationship**; by identifying as "thy servant," the psalmist appeals to God's faithfulness and loyalty to those who serve Him, a common motif in psalms of distress, as seen in [Psalm 143:12](/psalms/143-12 "Psalm 143:12 - Deliverance for God's Servant"). The psalm also carries significant **messianic undertones**, with many of its expressions of suffering and reproach being directly quoted or alluded to in the New Testament concerning Christ's passion (e.g., [John 2:17](/john/2-17 "John 2:17 - Zeal for God's House") and [Romans 15:3](/romans/15-3 "Romans 15:3 - Christ Did Not Please Himself")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hide not thy face (Hebrew, _satar panim'_):** This idiomatic expression signifies the withdrawal of God's favor, help, or presence. It is the antithesis of God "making His face shine upon" His people, which denotes blessing, approval, and active intervention. For the psalmist, God's hidden face implies abandonment, a state of being cut off from divine assistance and comfort, which is more terrifying than the physical troubles themselves. It conveys a deep sense of vulnerability and isolation.
* **Speedily (Hebrew, _maher'_):** This adverb emphasizes the immediate and urgent nature of the psalmist's plea. It reflects a profound sense of desperation and the overwhelming intensity of his "trouble." The psalmist is not asking for future relief or gradual amelioration but for swift, decisive, and instant divine action, demonstrating an absolute trust in God's power to intervene promptly.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And hide not thy face from thy servant;":** This initial clause expresses the psalmist's deepest fear and most fervent desire. To "hide God's face" means to withdraw divine favor, attention, and active presence, leaving the suppliant feeling abandoned and without hope. The psalmist appeals to God based on his identity as "thy servant," emphasizing a relationship of devoted service and dependence, implying that God, as the benevolent Master, should not forsake His loyal follower. This is a plea for God's manifest presence and compassionate engagement.
* **"for I am in trouble:":** This clause provides the compelling reason for the psalmist's urgent plea. The Hebrew word for "trouble" (_tsarah_) denotes severe distress, anguish, or tribulation, encompassing both external afflictions and internal emotional turmoil. It highlights the overwhelming and immediate nature of the psalmist's predicament, justifying the intensity of his cry and the desperate need for divine intervention.
* **"hear me speedily.":** This final imperative underscores the urgency and depth of the psalmist's crisis. It is not merely a request for God to listen, but to respond with swift and decisive action. The adverb "speedily" conveys the acute pain and desperation, trusting that God is not only able to hear but also capable of immediate and powerful deliverance from the dire circumstances.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 69:17 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of urgent supplication. The phrase "hide not thy face" is a powerful example of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human characteristics (a face that can be hidden or revealed) to God. This device makes the divine relationship more relatable and the concept of divine absence or presence more tangible and emotionally impactful. The entire verse functions as a direct **Supplication** or **Lament**, characteristic of the psalm genre, where the speaker pours out their distress and makes an earnest appeal to God. The structure of the verse, moving from a negative plea ("hide not") to a causal explanation ("for I am in trouble") and then to a positive, urgent request ("hear me speedily"), creates a strong sense of **Pathos** and **Urgency**. This rhetorical progression effectively communicates the psalmist's overwhelming distress and desperate need for immediate divine action.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 69:17 profoundly illustrates the human experience of feeling forsaken by God in moments of extreme suffering, yet simultaneously clinging to the hope of His intervention. The theological undercurrent is one of divine fidelity and the believer's absolute dependence on God's active presence. It underscores the biblical truth that God is not a distant deity but one who hears the cries of His people, even when His face seems hidden. This verse also highlights the legitimacy of urgent, even demanding, prayer in times of crisis, appealing to God's covenant character and His role as the ultimate deliverer. The psalmist's plea for God not to "hide His face" resonates with the deepest human fear of divine abandonment, while the request to "hear me speedily" affirms a profound faith in God's power and willingness to act decisively on behalf of His servants.

* [Psalm 27:9](/psalms/27-9 "Psalm 27:9 - Do Not Hide Your Face")
* [Psalm 143:7](/psalms/143-7 "Psalm 143:7 - Hear Me Speedily")
* [Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Sins Hide God's Face")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 69:17 offers a timeless model for authentic prayer in the crucible of life's deepest trials. It grants us permission to express our rawest fears and most urgent needs to God, including the terrifying sensation of His perceived absence or silence. The psalmist's appeal, grounded in his identity as God's "servant," reminds us that our relationship with God is the very foundation for our pleas, enabling us to approach Him not as strangers but as His beloved children, appealing to His covenant faithfulness. In our own moments of "trouble," this verse encourages us to bring our burdens to God with unvarnished honesty and fervent urgency, trusting that He hears and is capable of swift, sovereign intervention. It teaches us that even when the darkness feels overwhelming and God seems distant, the path to hope and deliverance lies in persistently seeking His face and crying out for His speedy help, knowing that He is intimately acquainted with our suffering.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you felt God's "face hidden" from you in times of trouble, and how did you respond?**
* **What does it mean for you to approach God as "His servant" in prayer, and how does that relationship inform your requests?**
* **How does the psalmist's urgency ("hear me speedily") challenge or affirm your own prayer life during moments of crisis?**

### FAQ

**Why would God "hide His face" from His servant?**

Answer: The phrase "hide His face" is an anthropomorphic idiom that describes a perceived withdrawal of God's favor, presence, or active help. It doesn't necessarily mean God has literally turned away or abandoned His servant, but rather that His manifest blessing or intervention is not immediately apparent. In the Old Testament, God's hidden face could be a consequence of sin ([Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Sins Hide God's Face")), a test of faith, or simply a period where God's purposes are unfolding in ways that are not immediately clear or comforting to the human experience. The psalmist's cry reflects the deep pain and confusion of feeling cut off from God's visible support, even while maintaining faith in His ultimate character. It's a common lament throughout the Psalms, indicating a profound spiritual struggle rather than a definitive statement about God's actual abandonment.

**Is it appropriate to demand that God "hear me speedily"?**

Answer: Yes, the Bible often portrays believers expressing urgent and even demanding pleas to God, especially in times of severe distress. The psalmist's "hear me speedily" is not a disrespectful demand but an expression of profound desperation and a deep trust in God's power and willingness to intervene swiftly. It reflects the understanding that God is sovereign and capable of immediate action. This kind of fervent, honest prayer is encouraged throughout Scripture, demonstrating a complete reliance on God's timing and ability, as seen in other urgent prayers like [Psalm 18:6](/psalms/18-6 "Psalm 18:6 - Crying Out in Distress") or [Psalm 143:7](/psalms/143-7 "Psalm 143:7 - Hear Me Speedily"). It acknowledges God's omnipotence and His compassionate nature, inviting Him to act according to His perfect will, even if that means a swift response.

**How does this verse relate to the concept of God's presence in suffering?**

Answer: This verse highlights the tension between the believer's experience of suffering and the theological truth of God's omnipresence. While God is always present, His manifest presence—His active intervention, comfort, and visible favor—can feel absent during intense trials. The psalmist's plea to "hide not thy face" is a yearning for that manifest presence to be restored or revealed. It affirms that even when God's face seems hidden, the proper response is not to despair but to cry out to Him, trusting that He is indeed near and hears the cries of His people. This dynamic underscores that God's presence in suffering is often experienced through faith and persistent prayer, even when emotional comfort or immediate deliverance is not felt. It is a reminder that God is present even in the silence, beckoning us to draw near.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 69:17, with its poignant cry for God not to hide His face in trouble and to hear speedily, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and passion of Jesus Christ. Psalm 69 is one of the most frequently quoted messianic psalms in the New Testament, with many of its expressions of suffering and reproach directly applied to Christ. The psalmist's experience of being overwhelmed by "deep waters" ([Psalms 69:1-2](/psalms/69-1 "Psalms 69:1-2 - Sinking in Deep Waters")) and bearing the "reproaches of those who reproach You" ([Psalms 69:9](/psalms/69-9 "Psalms 69:9 - Zeal for God's House")) foreshadows Christ's own suffering and zeal for God's house, as noted in [John 2:17](/john/2-17 "John 2:17 - Jesus' Zeal for the Temple") and [Romans 15:3](/romans/15-3 "Romans 15:3 - Christ Did Not Please Himself"). The psalmist's cry, "hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily," resonates deeply with Jesus' agony in Gethsemane, where He prayed with urgent intensity for the cup to pass, yet submitted to His Father's will ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). Even more profoundly, the psalmist's fear of God hiding His face reaches its harrowing climax on the cross, when Jesus, bearing the sins of the world, cried out, "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 truly "hid His face" from the Son, not out of abandonment, but because the Son became sin for us, enduring the full wrath of God so that we might never experience true divine abandonment. Thus, Christ's suffering, culminating in His cry of dereliction, fully embodies the "trouble" and the perceived divine silence of the psalmist, yet through His speedy resurrection, God's face was gloriously revealed, and His servant was heard and vindicated, securing eternal deliverance for all who believe ([Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Declared Son of God by Resurrection")).

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 27:9

Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Psalms 102:2

Hide not thy face from me in the day [when] I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day [when] I call answer me speedily.

Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Psalms 70:1

¶ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David, to bring to remembrance. [Make haste], O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.

Job 7:21

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I [shall] not [be].

Psalms 143:9

Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

Psalms 40:13

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.