Danny Hickman Supporter Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

Why did God hide His face from David? (Psalm 30:7) 

Did God really hide His face from David, or is it that David only felt that way? Maybe David felt that way because he foolishly numbered the people (2 Sam 24). Or maybe it was his sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba, impregnating her and murdering her husband Uriah in an attempt to cover it all up (2 Sam 11). Or was it because he intended to kill every man of Nabal's household when he was disrespected by Nabal the fool? God had to use Nabal's wife Abigail to keep David from going through with what was in his heart (revenge)(1 Sam 25). If David was like me, it would be all of the above and then some more.

"Hid your face" is a figurative expression, God hasn't actually exposed His face to anyone at any time. David feels as if God has turned away from him; that God is withholding His presence from him. I think it only feels that way to David. I don't think God hides from us. 

Who among us who have gotten into a close relationship with the Lord, similar to what David had, hasn't felt the same as David, that God has left us because of something we've done? If God did hide Himself from us because of our sin He'd never come out of hiding. 

David asked God, "Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble"? (Psalm 10:1). Is it true that God hides Himself from us when we're in trouble? NO! This is just how David felt when he was calling out to God and he had to wait on God to rescue him. This is very normal. It's also normal to accuse God of such. (What I don't understand, is how such accusations stick. David writes how he's feeling toward God at a certain time in a song, and it's interpreted as divine fact. David says 'God hid from me,' and the christian community puts it out that God hides. That's not how the scriptures are to be learned). 

He asks God to "Hide your face from my sins" in Psalm 51:9; so which is it? Does he want God to hide His face or not? 

Psalm 32, another psalm of David, tells us who hides from whom. David says "When I kept silent my bones wasted away.." (vs 3) "I acknowledged my sin.. I said 'I will confess..' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin." (vs 5) Why was David keeping silent? Why do we? I think we do all of the hiding. 

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You at a time when You may be found (vs 6). 
That's the answer, I think. I think prayer searches God out; not that He was actually hiding.

August 19 2021 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, the reference in this psalm is to David having incurred God's anger by pridefully ordering a census to be taken of Israel, against the advice of his army commander Joab (as recounted in 2 Samuel 24). As a result, God sent three days of pestilence on the land that killed 70,000 people.

December 31 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Why did God hide his face from David? (Psalm 30:7)

The primary reason God withdraws His favour is due to sin and disobedience. When people stray from Him, He may hide His face as a consequence, much like a parent turning away from a disrespectful child. 

God may allow His presence to feel distant to highlight a person's need for Him and to foster a deeper, repentant relationship. A broken and contrite heart, as described in Psalm 51:17, is often the accepted sacrifice for reconciliation. 

Note the superscription at Psalm 51, written by David when he sinned - To the director. A melody of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him after David had relations with Bath-sheʹba.

And then read verse 10 of Psalm 51, Create in me a pure heart, O God, and put within me a new spirit, a steadfast one. After his sin with Bathsheba, a repentant David here pleaded with Jehovah God to cleanse his heart and put within him the spirit, or mental inclination, to do what is right.

Here in Psalm 32, David reveals that keeping silent about his sin led to extreme distress. It was only after he confessed his wrongdoing that God forgave him and restored their fellowship. This experience taught him that unconfessed sin can cause a person to feel distant from God.

To 'conceal the face' has a variety of meanings, depending on the circumstance. Jehovah God's concealing His face often signifies a withdrawal of His favour or His sustaining power. This may be as a consequence of the disobedience of the individual or body of persons involved, such as the nation of Israel. (Job 34:29; Ps 30:5-8; Isa 54:8; 59:2) In some cases, it may denote that Jehovah refrains from revealing himself by action or reply, awaiting his own due time. (Ps 13:1-3) David's request, "Conceal your face from my sins," petitioned God to pardon or set aside such transgressions.​—Ps 51:9; compare Ps 10:11.

When Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", he took on the punishment for the sins of humanity. This allowed God to hide His face from sin on the cross, so that He would not have to hide His face from His people forever. 

The Bible teaches that God does not abandon his people, but that trials can be a form of loving discipline intended to bring them back to him. 

David's request for "a pure heart" and "a new spirit," however, shows that he recognised his sinful tendency and the need for divine help to cleanse his heart.

David made this request because he realised that, despite his natural tendency to behave in a specific way, sin may still be in his heart. We may not have been involved in the kinds of sin that ensnared David in connection with Bathsheba and Uriah. Still, like David, we need Jehovah's help to avoid yielding to temptation to engage in any gravely sinful conduct.

October 07 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report