Psalm 71 (70):12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Indeed, the Lord is always close at hand. He is especially near to those whose hearts are broken.

O my God, please remain close to me. As my adversaries declare, do not hesitate any longer to deliver me. O my God, respond to my plea for assistance.

Grant me Your swift assistance, and do not distance Yourself from my need. However, the Prophet is not referring to God's essence being absent from him, as God is omnipresent and inherent in all things, but is instead speaking of God's Providence and active support.

If my transgressions repel You, as another prophet remarked about the Israelites, stating, 'Your iniquities have separated you from your God' (Isaiah 59:2), I implore You not to withdraw from me. God is not distanced by physical space or by His essence, as He is boundless, but rather by His divine will. My God, I cry out for Your assistance.

It is impossible to adequately express the depth of anguish and challenge posed by that temptation when the wicked viewed David as forsaken by God. They proclaimed, "God has abandoned him," not merely by chance, but with malicious intent, seemingly convinced of David's unrighteousness as the reason for his divine abandonment. Yet, David met their unjust words with unwavering resolve, placing his faith in the mercy of the Most High and turning to Him earnestly. There is no doubt that by referring to God as his Lord, he shielded himself from their fierce and brutal attacks. In seeking God's assistance, he simultaneously prays for the shame and downfall of his adversaries until they are no more. Since we have previously clarified the interpretation of these oaths, there is no need for further reiteration here.

The descendants of Jonadab are recognized as sons of compliance, as they adhered to their father Jonadab's commandments fully and loyally until the end. In doing so, they earned everlasting acclaim from God (Jeremiah 35:18-19), serving as a model of unwavering faithfulness. This contrasts with the original captives of sin, Adam and Eve, who were led into Babylon due to their disobedience to the heavenly Father’s decree. The Jewish people, initially taken captive by Babylon due to their failure to uphold God's law, also serve as a reminder that captivity was distinct from their identity.