"Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily."
Psalm 16:16-17
A quick glance through this psalm and we know that David is in trouble again. He is in deep water, and His LORD is the only one that can help him. Our verses for today show us once again how David learned to trust God, and how we can trust Him in our need also.
“Hear me, O LORD;”
It was a normal part of David’s life for him to be crying out to God for help.
“Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly,” (Psalm 3:7).
And the LORD was always glad to hear from him.
“For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard,” (Psalm 22:24).
David was confident that God would hear him and meet his need.
“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,” (Psalm 27:9).
“For thy lovingkindness is good:”
Your lovingkindness that is your “faithful love” to me is good. David had the confidence in his God that He loved him, and because of that faithful love, He cared for him.
“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee,” (Psalm 63:3).
“Turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.”
LORD, turn your ear to me. Your mercy, your favor toward me is good. Please continue to be favorable to my need. This is not the only time David asks God for His mercy.
“…Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions,” (Psalm 51:1b).
“And hide not thy face from thy servant;”
David feared that his God might turn away from him.
“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,” (Psalm 27:9).
“To ‘hide the face’ is to turn it away with displeasure as if we would not look on one who has offended us. The favor of God is often expressed by ‘lifting the light of his countenance’ upon anyone – looking complacently or ‘pleasedly’ upon him. The reverse of this is expressed by hiding the face, or by turning it away,”1 (Barnes).
“For I am in trouble: hear me speedily.”
Again, David is in deep trouble. He needs the LORD’s help quickly, or he will die. He is in need of speedy help because of his enemies (v. 18). God is always on time, and never late. He knows our need, and He cares.
1. Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.