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Day 38

Psalm 44:23a "Awake! Why do You sleep, O LORD?"

Day 38 – Psalm 45

“Awake! Why do You sleep, O LORD?” Psalm 44:23a

AN IMPASSIONED PLEA

The following text would need careful interpretation or it might be completely misread.

“Awake! Why do you sleep, O LORD?
Arise! Do not cast us off forever.”
Psalm 44:23

1. “Awake! Why do you sleep, O LORD?”

This is not impertinence! The sons of Korah still acknowledged God as LORD!

a) Imagine a person at wits end.
b) He cannot fathom the silence of God.
c) The only imagery he can come up with is the thought of “sleep”.
d) A person who is asleep does not hear and cannot respond.
e) The sons of Korah are perplexed as to why God had not answered yet!

The word “awake” was also used by the psalmist David. He employed the word “awake” to plead with God to come to his rescue and to vindicate him (Psalm 35:23).

2. “Arise! Do not cast us off forever.”

The word “arise” was also used by the psalmist David. In Psalm 7:6, David used the word “arise” to plead with God to fight against wicked enemies.

a) The sons of Korah was making an impassioned plea to God for Divine help.
b) The fear of being “cast off forever” was so very real.
c) There were very real struggles of the heart.
i) Silence and no response from God could mean that He had rejected Israel forever.
ii) Non deliverance would also spell almost certain death.
iii) The fear of impending death was very real indeed.