What is the meaning of Psalm 69:17?

Hide not Your face

• In Scripture, God’s “face” represents His favor and nearness (Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 27:9).

• David fears separation from that favor; he prays that God will not turn away as a judge hides from the guilty (Isaiah 59:2).

• Because God’s character is unchanging mercy (Exodus 34:6 - 7), David appeals confidently, expecting real, literal intervention.

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from Your servant

• By calling himself “Your servant,” David confesses submission and loyalty (Psalm 86:2; 2 Samuel 7:25).

• This title reminds us that God hears those who belong to Him (John 10:27).

• The relationship is covenantal: a master protects and provides for a servant (Psalm 123:2).

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for I am in distress

• The plea is grounded in present, crushing trouble—physical, emotional, perhaps both (Psalm 31:7-9).

• Scripture shows God’s heart moved by His people’s affliction (Isaiah 63:9; Exodus 3:7-8).

• Naming the distress is an act of faith, bringing the burden into God’s light (1 Peter 5:7).

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Answer me quickly!

• Urgency colors the final cry; prolonged silence would deepen despair (Psalm 143:7).

• God’s Word often couples quick deliverance with His righteousness (Isaiah 65:24; Luke 18:7-8).

• The psalmist expects God to act in real time, revealing that prompt divine help is consistent with His nature (Psalm 40:1-3).

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summary

Psalm 69:17 captures a servant’s urgent, confident request for God’s immediate presence and aid. David longs for God’s favor (Hide not Your face), appeals from a humble relationship (from Your servant), admits overwhelming trouble (for I am in distress), and seeks swift intervention (Answer me quickly!). The verse teaches that believers may approach the Lord openly and expectantly, trusting His faithful character to respond when life presses hard.