be not silent.
David's plea for God not to be silent underscores the urgency of his situation. Silence from God can be perceived as inaction or indifference, which is a common concern in the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 28:1). This request for God to speak or act is a call for divine intervention. In biblical history, God's voice often signifies His active presence and power, such as when He spoke creation into existence (Genesis 1) or when He gave the Law at Sinai (Exodus 20). Theologically, this reflects the belief that God's word is powerful and effective.

O Lord, be not far from me.
This plea for God's nearness is a request for His presence and support. In the ancient Near Eastern context, proximity to a deity was associated with favor and protection. The request for God not to be far is echoed in other scriptures, such as Psalm 22:11, where David asks for God's presence in times of trouble. This reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, where God promises to be with them (Deuteronomy 31:6). In the New Testament, this theme is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is called "Immanuel," meaning "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), signifying God's ultimate nearness to humanity.

“O LORD, You have seen it;”

• David opens with confident certainty that God has already witnessed the injustice piling up against him.

• Scripture teaches that nothing escapes God’s gaze—“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

• Because God sees, David knows the situation has been accurately recorded in heaven’s books (Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12).

• This awareness brings comfort: “You have kept count of my wanderings; You have put my tears in Your bottle” (Psalm 56:8).

• The psalmist’s first step, then, is not panic but recognition that God is fully informed.

“…be not silent.”

• Knowing that God sees naturally leads to a plea that He speak and act.

• In Psalm 83:1 the same request appears: “O God, do not keep silent; do not hold Your peace or be still.”

• Silence in the face of wrongdoing can appear like acquiescence; David longs for divine vindication, echoing Isaiah 42:13 where the LORD “stirs up His zeal” and “shouts aloud.”

• The New Testament mirrors this cry when martyrs under the altar ask, “How long, Sovereign Lord…until You judge?” (Revelation 6:10).

• We, too, are encouraged to appeal for God’s timely intervention while trusting His perfect schedule (2 Peter 3:9).

“O Lord,”

• The second address shifts from the covenant name (YHWH) to Adonai, emphasizing God’s rightful mastery over David’s circumstances (Psalm 8:1).

• By repeating his appeal, David models persistence in prayer—“men ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1–8).

• The intimate tone underscores relationship: God is not a distant force but the Master who shepherds His own (Psalm 23:1).

“…be not far from me.”

• Physical distance is not the issue; David longs for a felt nearness of God’s protective presence.

• Similar language surfaces in Psalm 22:11—“Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.”

• God’s promise is steady: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). The plea, therefore, is for experiential assurance, not a corrective of divine absence.

• When believers face hostility, the Spirit bears witness that God’s nearness is real (Romans 8:16), and trials become occasions to prove that “the LORD is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18).

Psalm 35:22 captures a four-fold rhythm: recognition that God already sees, a request that He speak, a reaffirmation of His lordship, and an appeal for His felt presence. Together these lines invite us to pray with confidence that the all-seeing, speaking, ruling, and present Lord will act righteously on behalf of His people.