Psalms 44:23 KJV
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Psalms 42-44 seem to tie in together. In each the Psalmist feels "cast down" or "cast off." There is a series of highs and lows, of mountain tops and valleys throughout these Psalms.
He admits that there have been wonderful times when God did "drive the heathen with thy hand" (Ps 44:2).
He believes there will come again a day when through God they would "push down their enemies" (Ps 44:5 ).
He knew they could "boast all the day long" in God (Ps 44:8)
But such was not the case at that moment. Right now it seemed as if God had cast them off and put them to shame. (Ps 44:9) And he was confused (Ps 44:15).
So his cry to God was, "Awake, why sleepest thou, O LORD?..." We know that God does not slumber nor sleep, but that there are times when it feels like that from our perspective. Even when the Psalmist exclaims, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." (Ps 42:1) the obvious implication is that at that moment he was thirsty rather than satisfied in the Lord.
It is not wrong to call on the Lord to "Arise for our help, and redeem us for Thy mercies' sake." (Ps 44:26)
Let’s not ignore those times in our lives and act as if we Christians can never be in the valley. Let’s not pretend that life is always on the high places and give those who need Christ a false impression.
Let’s be honest.
And then let’s call out to the Lord. With fervor and passion let’s plead to the Lord to “arise for our help” and see what He will do.
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Psalms 42-44 seem to tie in together. In each the Psalmist feels "cast down" or "cast off." There is a series of highs and lows, of mountain tops and valleys throughout these Psalms.
He admits that there have been wonderful times when God did "drive the heathen with thy hand" (Ps 44:2).
He believes there will come again a day when through God they would "push down their enemies" (Ps 44:5 ).
He knew they could "boast all the day long" in God (Ps 44:8)
But such was not the case at that moment. Right now it seemed as if God had cast them off and put them to shame. (Ps 44:9) And he was confused (Ps 44:15).
So his cry to God was, "Awake, why sleepest thou, O LORD?..." We know that God does not slumber nor sleep, but that there are times when it feels like that from our perspective. Even when the Psalmist exclaims, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." (Ps 42:1) the obvious implication is that at that moment he was thirsty rather than satisfied in the Lord.
It is not wrong to call on the Lord to "Arise for our help, and redeem us for Thy mercies' sake." (Ps 44:26)
Let’s not ignore those times in our lives and act as if we Christians can never be in the valley. Let’s not pretend that life is always on the high places and give those who need Christ a false impression.
Let’s be honest.
And then let’s call out to the Lord. With fervor and passion let’s plead to the Lord to “arise for our help” and see what He will do.
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