Psalms 35:23
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
Original Language Analysis
לְמִשְׁפָּטִ֑י
to my judgment
H4941
לְמִשְׁפָּטִ֑י
to my judgment
Strong's:
H4941
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
אֱלֹהַ֖י
my God
H430
אֱלֹהַ֖י
my God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
4 of 6
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
Cross References
Psalms 7:6Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.Psalms 44:23Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.Isaiah 51:9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?Psalms 59:4They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.Psalms 80:2Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.Psalms 142:5I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.Psalms 89:26He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.John 20:28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern warfare included trumpet calls awakening armies to action. David applies this to spiritual warfare, calling on the Divine Warrior to engage on his behalf.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you 'awaken' your own faith to expect God's action?
- What does it mean to entrust your cause to God rather than self-vindication?
Analysis & Commentary
The military language 'stir up' and 'awake' anthropomorphically pictures God rousing for battle like a warrior rising from rest. This doesn't imply divine inactivity but uses human metaphor to express the psalmist's urgent desire for manifest intervention. 'My judgment' and 'my cause' are David's because they're entrusted to God as righteous judge, modeling the New Testament teaching to commit judgment to Him who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:23).