David sinned. His confession and request followed. The dual-verse stanza conclusion sums up the entire appeal, “Do not forsake me, be not far from me, come quickly to help me.” David’s request is to the LORD, his God and Savior. David has prayed “Do not be far from me” in earlier Psalms 22:19 and 35:22. He prayed “Do not forsake me” several times too. (27:9, 10, 38:21, 71:9, 18, as did a priest in 119:8)
How is it that a man who the Lord stated was after his heart (1 Samuel 13:14) has on at least three occasions needed to ask the Lord these two things? What did he mean? In each instance, he was in dire need. He was very ill, to the point of death and his enemies were sure to make his life miserable and push him to the edge of existence. Hence, the Lord had not come to his rescue. The Lord had not delivered him. The Lord kept him in illness and misery. David did not ask, “Why me?” Instead, David is saying as in Psalm 40:13 and 17, “Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me… Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.”
Even a righteous child of God will at times plead with the Lord to not delay any more. The apostles approached the misery and persecution they endured by adding rejoicing that they were considered special enough to suffer for Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 2:2) Peter concludes his first letter, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)
