Depart from me, all you who practice lawlessness, for the Lord has heard the voice of my crying.
In this verse the atmosphere of the psalm suddenly changes. David’s weak cry turns into confident speech. The circumstances perhaps had not yet changed, but he had become convinced that the Lord had heard him. For him, God’s hearing was already the beginning of victory. With that confidence he addresses those who practice lawlessness and declares that their power is not final. The words “Depart from me” are also a moral boundary. David refuses to tie his life to their evil course. The believer likewise is called to withdraw from the influence of evil, without hatred toward people. We can desire mercy for the sinner and at the same time reject his lawless deeds. The verse teaches that confidence in an answer to prayer does not always produce an immediately noticeable change outwardly. Sometimes God first strengthens the heart. The Lord’s hearing mercy gives the weakened person fresh courage to stand and to resist evil.