Psalm 44:23 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 44:17-26

The people of God, being greatly afflicted and oppressed, here apply to him; whither else should they go? I. By way of appeal, concerning their integrity, which he only is an infallible judge of, and which he will certainly be the rewarder of. Two things they call God to witness to:? 1. That, though they suffered these hard things, yet they kept close to God and to their duty (Ps. 44:17): ?All this has come upon us, and it is as bad perhaps as bad can be, yet have we not forgotten thee,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:23

Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord ?.... Not that sleep properly falls upon God: the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; his eyes are always upon his people; he never withdraws them from them, and he watches over them night and day: but sometimes he seems and is thought to be asleep; as when wicked men flourish and triumph over the righteous, and go on in sin with impunity; when their judgment seems to linger, and their damnation to slumber, though it does not; and when the saints... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:23

A wake, why steepest thou, O Lord? - That is, Why dost thou appear as one asleep, who is regardless of the safety of his friends. This is a freedom of speech which can only be allowed to inspired men; and in their mouths it is always to be figuratively understood. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:23

Verse 23 23Arise, O Lord! why sleepest thou? Here the saints desire that God, having pity upon them, would at length send them help and deliverance. Although God allows the saints to plead with him in this babbling manner, when in their prayers they desire him to rise up or awake; yet it is necessary that they should be fully persuaded that he keeps watch for their safety and defense. We must guard against the notion of Epicurus, who framed to himself a god who, having his abode in heaven,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:1-26

The occasion of the psalm is some serious reverse which the Israelites had sustained in a war with foreign enemies, but who were the enemies, and when exactly the reverse was sustained, are uncertain. No doubt there were many temporary reverses in the course of David's wars, after one of which the psalm may have been written. The psalm divides itself into four parts. In part 1. ( Psalms 60:1-8 ) the writer recounts God's mercies in the past, and from them confidently concludes that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:1-26

In the days of old. From this psalm we may learn three great lessons— I. WE ARE TAUGHT TO SEE GOD 'S HAND IN HISTORY . There is no such thing as chance. "The chapter of accidents," as some one has well said, "is the Bible of the fool." There are differences in the nations and the ages; but God is in all. We acknowledge how God was with the Jews; but we are not so ready to admit that he had to do just as really and truly with other peoples. The difference, in the case... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:1-26

A prayer for help against foreign enemies. The train of thought is this: "Thou hast helped us, thou must help us; but thou hast not helped us; yet have we not by any guilt on our part cut ourselves off from thy help; do thou therefore help us." The problem of suffering , as argued in this psalm, is similar to the problem in the Book of Job. That God should not help them — I. WAS INCONSISTENT WITS GOD 'S PAST TREATMENT OF THEM . (Verses 1-3.) Their fathers had told... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:23

Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? The psalmist does not really believe that Jehovah "sleeps." The heathen might so imagine of their gods ( 1 Kings 18:27 ), but not an Israelite. An Israelite would be sure that "he that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps" ( Psalms 121:4 ). The writer consciously uses an anthropomorphism, really intending only to call on God to rouse himself from his inaction, and lay it aside, and come to Israel's aid. Arise (see Psalms 7:6 ; Psalms 9:19 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:23-26

The appeal to God is now made, after the case has been fully represented. God has always hitherto maintained the cause of his people, and given them victory over their enemies, unless they had fallen away from him ( Psalms 44:1-8 ). Now he has acted otherwise—he has allowed their enemies to triumph ( Psalms 44:9-16 ). And they have given him no reason for his desertion of them ( Psalms 44:17-22 ). Surely, if they call upon him, and plead their cause before him, he will relent, and come... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44:23

Awake, why sleepest thou? - This is a solemn and earnest appeal to God to interpose in their behalf, as if he were “asleep,” or were regardless of their sufferings. Compare Psalms 3:7, note; Psalms 7:6, note; Psalms 35:23, note.Arise, cast us not off for ever - Do not forsake us always. Compare Psalms 44:9. He had seemed to have cast them off; to have forgotten them; to have forsaken them utterly, and the psalmist, in the name of the people, calls on him not entirely to abandon them. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 44:17-26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:1-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:1-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:1-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:23-26

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44:23

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