Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer.
This psalm is assigned to David. I’m sure David knew that God heard him. But he wanted to be sure. He’s pleading with Him to hear his cry. Sometimes we are so overwhelmed that we cry out in desperation. It’s like a call to please hear me! Have you ever been there? Crying out to God because you’re in the depths of despair? Commentaries I’ve looked at think he wrote this after his son Absalom rebelled and took the kingdom. David didn’t want to fight in battle with his son. Sometimes our children and our relatives are the ones that break our hearts.
Attend means: give practical help and care to; pay attention to.
David is asking God to not only hear him, but to really pay attention to his prayer and answer him. He knows God loves him. He turns to him and pleads. Have you ever been there? Something or someone has hurt you so deeply and you run to God for help. You want/need an answer. And God is there.