John Calvin Commentary Psalms 10:1

"Why standest thou afar off, O Jehovah? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?" — Psalms 10:1 (ASV)

Lord, why standest thou afar off? Here we see how the prophet, seeking a remedy for his calamities, which were apparently beyond hope, directly addresses God at the very beginning. And the rule we should observe, when we are in trouble and sorrow, is this: We should seek comfort and solace in the providence of God; for amidst our agitations, vexations, and cares, we ought to be fully persuaded that it is his special role to give relief to the wretched and afflicted.

It is in a figurative sense, and by anthropopathy, that the Psalmist speaks of God as standing far away. Nothing can be hidden from his eyes; but as God permits us to speak to him as we do to one another, these forms of expression do not contain anything absurd, provided we understand them as applied to God, not in a literal sense, but only figuratively, according to the judgment that mere human perception forms from the present appearance of things.

It is possible that a righteous person may not prevent an injury that is done to a poor person before his eyes, because he lacks the power; but this cannot be the case with God, who is always armed with invincible power. If, therefore, he acts as if he took no notice, it is the same as if he withdrew himself far away.

The word תעלים, taelim, which signifies to hide, is explained in two ways. According to some, David here complains of God for hiding himself, as if he considered the care of human affairs beneath him. Others understand it as meaning to shut the eyes; and this seems to me to be the simpler view.

It should be observed that although David here complains that God kept himself far away, he was, nevertheless, fully persuaded of his presence with him; otherwise it would have been in vain to call upon him for aid.

The question he uses has this meaning: Lord, since it is your prerogative to govern the world, and also to regulate it by your righteousness as you sustain it by your power, why is it that you do not more quickly show yourself a defender of your own people against the arrogance and incredible pride of the ungodly?

David, however, speaks this way not so much to complain as to encourage himself in the confidence of obtaining what he desired. Through the weakness of human perception, he says that it is unbecoming of God to delay so long in executing his office; and yet, at the same time, he does not fail to yield to him the honor that is his due, and by his prayers he entrusts to his bosom the great burden of trouble with which he was laden.

The expression that follows, at needful times, relates to the same subject. Although God may not extend his hand to take vengeance at every moment, yet when he beholds the simple and innocent oppressed, it is not time for him to delay any longer. David briefly defines the appropriate time for God to act as when the faithful are in distress.

We have spoken of this form of speech in the preceding psalm, at the tenth verse (Psalms 9:10).