“The believer cannot live a single moment without the feeling that God is close to him,” says Shlomo Libertovski, a Torah scholar from Beth Shemesh, commenting on Psalm 27 for the Heschel Center at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Reflecting on King David’s plea, Libertovski emphasizes that the fear of Divine distance is one of the most challenging aspects of faith.
Psalm 27:9 reads: “Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant.” According to Rashi (12th century), this verse expresses David’s plea for God’s continued protection. “When a person feels that God is hiding His face from him, he may feel lonely and unprotected,” Libertovski explains. David asks not to be abandoned, trusting in God’s enduring support.
Rabbi David Kimchi (12th-13th century) interprets David’s words as the plea of a servant before his master, asking for mercy instead of judgment. “The righteous fear that God may separate Himself from them,” Libertovski notes. Similarly, Rabbi David Altschuler (18th century) sees this verse as an expression of anxiety over God’s possible withdrawal, interpreting it as: “Do not refrain from watching over me.”
The Malbim (19th century) divides the verse into two petitions: one seeking the constant presence of the Shekinah and the other asking for merciful judgment. “Even if David deserved punishment, he sought God’s mercy over His anger,” Libertovski explains.
Ultimately, the commentary underscores a fundamental belief: God’s presence is the source of security. Yet, as Libertovski concludes, “Man cannot find God unless God reveals Himself to man.” The verse, then, reflects both longing and faith, a paradox at the heart of spiritual life.
The Heschel Center, KUL
The complete commentary follows:
The words “Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant.” (Psalms 27:9) reflect King David’s emotional plea to God.
Rashi (1140-1150) interprets this to mean that David is asking God not to withdraw His care from him and not to punish him out of anger. When a person feels that God is hiding His face from him, he may feel lonely and unprotected. David emphasizes that God has always been there to help, so he asks God to continue to protect him.
Rabbi David Kimchi (1235-1160) explains that David turns to God as a slave turns to his master and asks that He would not punish him to the full extent of the law. The expression of fear that God will hide His face indicates the great fear of the righteous that God may separate Himself from them.
Rabbi David Altschuler (1687-1769), in his book “Castles,” interprets this verse as David’s plea out of fear that God will distance Himself from him. “Hide not your face from me” – that is, do not refrain from watching over me. “Do not in anger repel your servant” – do not judge me with anger but with mercy.
Rabbi Meir Leibush Weiser (1809 - 1879), the Malbim, in his book on the Bible, divides the verse into two: “Do not hide your face from me” – a request that the Shekinah – God’s presence would not leave him. “Do not in anger repel your servant.” Even if he deserves punishment, he asks God to deal with him mercifully, not in anger.
In general, the verse reflects a longing for God’s closeness and an awareness that His providence is the source of man’s protection and security. However, man cannot find God unless God reveals Himself to man. The one who had just worshipped, who was safe and happy and longed to be in the temple that is God’s dwelling place, was momentarily struck with doubt: “Will God really accept me?” And he continued to pray: “Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You were my help. Do not forsake me, God of salvation.” The believer cannot live a single moment without the feeling that God is close to him. He never hides from him.