Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Fifth strophe. Psalms 44:23-26.-Prayer that God would arise for His people's help.
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? The answer is given, Psalms 121:4. Compare also Matthew 8:25. The "for ever" here is emphatic. In Psalms 44:9 the Church had said, "thou hast cast off;" here she cries, though our shortcomings have brought on us temporary casting away, let it not be "for ever." The Church's prayer herein rests on God's promise in 1 Samuel 12:22. Compare Jeremiah 31:37; Romans 11:1.