“This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.”
The psalmist appeals to God 'You have seen this, O LORD; do not be silent.' The verb 'seen' suggests that God has witnessed what the psalmist has endured, that divine observation is not in doubt. The plea 'do not be silent' echoes the earlier question of how long God will appear passive, urging God to move from observation to intervention. The psalmist does not deny God's awareness but appeals for God's action. This verse demonstrates that acknowledging God's omniscience does not satisfy the psalmist's need for active divine intervention.
Church Fathers on Psalms 35:22
1. ...The title of it causes us no delay, for it is both brief, and to be understood not difficult, especially to those nursed in the Church of God. For so it is, “To David himself.” The Psalm then is to David himself: now David is interpreted, Strong in hand, or Desirable. The Psalm then is to the Strong in hand, and Desirable, to Him who for us has overcome death, who unto us has promised life: for in this is He Strong in hand, that He has overcome death for us; in this is…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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