Salmi 10:1 Midrash: Midrash Tehillim, Bamidbar Rabbah, Pesikta Rabbati & Sifrei Bamidbar

"Why do you stand far off, O Lord?" This is what the verse says in Daniel 7:25: "And words against the Most High shall he speak." Rabbi Yosei said, "The wicked do not associate with a person unless they defame him, as it says, 'And words against the Most High shall he speak.'" (Rabbi Yosei is referring to God). Afterwards, the verse continues, "And the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom." These are the people of Israel, as it says in Leviticus 19:2, "You shall be holy." And from where do we know that Israel is called "supreme"? As it says in Deuteronomy 28:1, "The Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth."This can be compared to a man who had a vineyard, and robbers wanted to enter it but were unable to because he had a fence around it. What did they do? They broke down the fence and then entered the vineyard. Similarly, the nations of the world associate with Israel, who is like God's vineyard, as it says in Isaiah 5:7, "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel." They defame God and then attack Israel, as it says in Daniel 7:25, "And words against the Most High shall he speak." The verse continues, "And the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom." "Saints" refers to those who observe the three pilgrimage festivals, and "kingdom" refers to the Torah, as it says in Deuteronomy 33:2, "From His right hand came a fiery law for them." The verse then concludes, "And they shall possess the kingdom forever." We may always study the Torah, as it says in Daniel 7:25, "And they shall possess it forever, even forever and ever." Why do we subject ourselves to this, that God distances Himself from us? Therefore, the verse ends with the question, "Why do you stand far off, O Lord?"

Why does the Lord stand afar off? As it is written (Zechariah 7:13), "And it came to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear." Rabbi Yochanan said: The Divine Presence stood on the Mount of Olives for three and a half years and cried out (Isaiah 65:2), "I am sought of them that asked not for Me; I am found of them that sought Me not." But they did not pay attention, as it is said (ibid. 66:4), "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them." Rabbi Chanina offered a parable: It is like a caravan that was traveling on a road. When it became dark, the captain said to them, "Enter into the inn for fear of a wild beast and of robbers." But they replied, "It is not the custom of caravans to enter into inns, even if it be day." Later that night, they were attacked by robbers. When they returned to the innkeeper and asked him to open the door for them, he refused, saying, "It is not the custom of inns to open their doors at night, nor to receive guests at that time." Therefore, when I wanted to let you in, you refused, and now that you want to enter, I cannot let you in. Similarly, the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). But they did not seek Him. When they were handed over to the Gentiles, they began to cry out, "Why does the Lord stand afar off?" The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "When I sought you, you did not seek Me. Now that you seek Me, I do not listen to you." Measure for measure. Thus it is said (Zechariah 7:13), "And it came to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear." Perhaps this will be the case forever, God forbid, until the end of all ages and even beyond....

Another interpretation: Why does the Lord stand at a distance? As it is written (Hosea 5:6), "With their flocks and herds they will go to seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them." A philosopher asked Rabbi Gamliel, "Do you expect God to redeem you?" He replied, "Yes." The philosopher said, "But it is written 'He has withdrawn from them.'" (Hosea 5:6) Rabbi Gamliel asked him, "Who is permitted to initiate the process of yibum, a man or a woman?" The philosopher answered, "A woman." Rabbi Gamliel said, "He [the deceased brother] initiates it, and we do not initiate it for him. If the yevamah [the widow] had brothers, would her husband be allowed to return to her?" The philosopher said, "No." Rabbi Gamliel said, "From here we learn that God does not return to us." They then began to recite, "Why does the Lord stand at a distance?" (Lamentations 3:43)