תהלים, פרק פ״ח, פסוק ט״ו

A deep cry of pain arises from a profound sense of abandonment, made even sharper because the person reaches out to God constantly. The primary approach among commentators is that this situation centers on a feeling of being completely left behind or forsaken [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A difficult question emerges from this struggle: if someone prays and cries out without stopping, why does God seem to ignore their deep need, overlook their prayers, and leave them vulnerable to their enemies? [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

While this often reads as a deeply personal struggle, it also reflects a broader reality. This intense feeling of being left behind and experiencing God turning away can be understood as a description of the national pain and suffering experienced during exile [מאירי].

A unique approach views this plea by separating physical pain from spiritual suffering. In this perspective, the individual is actually making a specific request to God, begging Him not to abandon their spiritual core. Instead, the person offers an alternative, asking God to turn away only from their physical body and material life. They are willing to endure physical hardship, understanding that such pain brings forgiveness. Their only condition is that their soul is not pushed away, allowing their inner spirit to remain close to God [אלשיך].