John Calvin Commentary Psalms 35:22

"Thou hast seen it, O Jehovah; keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me." — Psalms 35:22 (ASV)

O Jehovah! you have also seen it. There is in these words an implied contrast between the view that God is represented as taking here, and the sight at which, as we are told in the preceding verse, the ungodly rejoiced. The meaning of David’s language is: You have rejoiced exceedingly at the sight of my miseries, but God also sees and notices the cruelty and malice of those who feel pleasure and gratification in seeing others afflicted and in trouble.

David, however, in speaking this way, does not stop to reason with his enemies but rather addresses God directly, setting His providence as a rampart of defense against all the assaults of those who sought to shake his confidence and who caused him much trouble.

And certainly, if we want to fortify ourselves against the scoffing and derision of our enemies, the best means we can employ for this purpose is to overlook them, elevate our thoughts to God, and in the confidence of His fatherly care over us, plead with Him to show, indeed, that our troubles are not unknown to Him. Yes, the more He sees the wicked eagerly watching every opportunity to accomplish our ruin, the more speedily He will come to our aid.

David expresses this in these various ways: Do not keep silent, do not be far from me, stir yourself up, awake for my judgment. He could justly use such expressions, since he was already fully persuaded that God regards the poor and afflicted, and notices all the wrongs done to them.

Therefore, if we are to frame our requests correctly, a clear conviction and persuasion of God’s providence must first shine into our hearts. Nor is it only necessary that this conviction precede all our desires in order; it must also restrain and govern them.