O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
O God {H430}, be not far {H7368}{H8799)} from me: O my God {H430}, make haste {H2363}{H8798)}{H8675)}{H2439} for my help {H5833}.
God, don't distance yourself from me! My God, hurry to help me!
Be not far from me, O God. Hurry, O my God, to help me.
O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
-
Psalms 38:21
Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. -
Psalms 38:22
Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. -
Psalms 35:22
[This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. -
Psalms 70:5
But I [am] poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying. -
Psalms 10:1
¶ Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? [why] hidest thou [thyself] in times of trouble? -
Psalms 22:11
¶ Be not far from me; for trouble [is] near; for [there is] none to help. -
Psalms 40:13
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
Psalms 71:12 KJV presents a fervent and urgent prayer from an individual facing deep distress, pleading for God's immediate and tangible presence and assistance. This verse encapsulates a profound human longing for divine nearness and swift intervention in times of trouble.
Context of Psalms 71
Psalm 71 is a prayer of an aged person, traditionally associated with King David, who is experiencing significant adversity, possibly from enemies or those who wish him ill. The psalmist feels vulnerable due to his age and seeks refuge and deliverance only in God. Throughout the psalm, there is a recurring theme of lifelong trust in God, combined with a plea for continued help in his later years. The cry "O God, be not far from me" reflects a fear of abandonment or a perceived spiritual distance, while "make haste for my help" underscores the immediate and desperate nature of his need for divine intervention.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "be not far" is rachaq (רָחַק), which implies a plea for God's active nearness and involvement, not merely a geographical distance. It speaks to a desire for God's tangible support in the midst of trials. The phrase "make haste" comes from the Hebrew chush (חוּשׁ), meaning to hurry or act quickly. This isn't a disrespectful demand but an earnest, desperate plea from one who is fully reliant on God's timely intervention, mirroring similar cries for swift help found in other psalms like Psalm 143:7.
Practical Application
Psalms 71:12 provides a powerful model for prayer in times of distress, loneliness, or overwhelming circumstances. It teaches us to: