John Calvin Commentary Psalms 69:18

"Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: Ransom me because of mine enemies." — Psalms 69:18 (ASV)

Draw near to my soul, redeem it. David was undoubtedly fully persuaded by faith that God was near him; but as we are accustomed to measure the presence or absence of God by the effects, David here implicitly complains, judging according to the flesh, that God is far from him.

By the expression, Draw near, he means that, insofar as could be gathered from his actual condition, God appeared to have no regard for his welfare. Again, by calling upon God to draw near to his life, which God seemed to have forsaken, he exhibits a striking proof of the strength of his faith.

The more cruelly he is troubled by the wicked and proud, the more he trusts that God will appear to deliver him. As has been elsewhere observed, it is always to be held as an undoubted truth that, since God resisteth the proud (James 4:6), God must eventually repress the insolence and pride of those who obstinately resist him, although he may seem to overlook them for a time.