Psalms 39:12
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Psalms 39:12
This verse is a heartfelt prayer: hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my cry; do not hide Your face from me in tears. The psalmist frames God as a personal, relational presence, not a distant force. Being “a stranger” and “sojourner” reflects the psalmist’s awareness of earthly life as temporary and faith-being in exile-like wandering. The verse echoes themes of lament and divine attentiveness, reinforcing covenant language: those who trust in God are not abandoned in distress. The historical sense of pilgrimage and waiting for restoration sits alongside the theology that God is near to the brokenhearted.
Key themes include divine attentiveness, lament as legitimate worship, and the believer’s identity as a pilgrim. The cry for God to listen when tears are shed acknowledges that God values emotion and honesty in prayer. It also foreshadows the biblical motif of God’s presence with His people in exile, and the hope that God will act to restore relationship and future. The psalm invites readers to bring their pain into conversation with God, trusting that He attends to even the smallest cries.
Name your tears and lift them honestly to God. Create a small daily practice: a quiet moment to talk with God about your fears, disappointments, and sense of being an outsider. If you feel unseen, remind yourself that God sees you—your pain matters to Him. Seek community support: share your burden with a trusted friend or pastor who can pray with you. Let lament prepare you to wait on God’s timing and to live toward future hope rather than dwelling in despair.
Cross-References: Psalm 34:18; Psalm 56:8; Isaiah 41:17-18; Lamentations 3:57; 1 Peter 3:12