Psalms 7:6

KJV

Arise, 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Arise {H6965}, O LORD {H3068}, in thine anger {H639}, lift up {H5375} thyself because of the rage {H5678} of mine enemies {H6887}: and awake {H5782} for me to the judgment {H4941} that thou hast commanded {H6680}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Rise up, ADONAI, in your anger! Arouse yourself against the fury of my foes. Wake up for me; you commanded justice.

Berean Standard Bible

Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.

American Standard Version

Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger; Lift up thyself against the rage of mine adversaries, And awake for me; thou hast commanded judgment.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 7:6 presents a fervent and urgent petition from David to God, imploring immediate divine intervention and the righteous execution of judgment against his relentless and malicious adversaries. This verse encapsulates the psalmist's profound reliance on God as the ultimate, sovereign, and just Judge, who is not only fully aware of injustice but is also committed to upholding His divine decrees and vindicating the innocent. It marks a pivotal moment in the psalm where David transitions from asserting his blamelessness to fervently calling upon God to manifest His power and righteous indignation against the wicked.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 7 is introduced as a "Shiggaion of David," a term that suggests a deeply emotional, perhaps highly passionate, and possibly erratically structured lament or prayer. The superscription links it to "the words of Cush the Benjamite," an otherwise obscure figure, yet the psalm's content vividly portrays David facing intense persecution, false accusations, and overwhelming hostility. The preceding verses, particularly [Psalm 7:3-5](/psalms/7-3-5 "Psalm 7:3-5 - David's Assertion of Innocence and Appeal to God"), establish David's fervent assertion of his innocence, appealing to God as the witness of his integrity and inviting divine judgment upon himself if he is found guilty. This foundational declaration of blamelessness sets the stage for the desperate cry for divine vindication in Psalm 7:6, where the psalmist transitions from presenting his case to directly imploring God to act as the righteous Judge, demanding an end to the injustice he suffers. The psalm then continues to express confidence in God's eventual judgment and a commitment to praise Him for His righteousness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the king often served as the supreme judge, responsible for upholding justice and protecting the vulnerable, thereby reflecting God's own character as the ultimate Judge. When human justice failed, or when the king himself was the target of injustice, the only recourse was a direct appeal to the divine. The concept of a divine court, where God hears cases and renders judgment, was deeply ingrained in the ancient Near Eastern worldview. David's plea for God to "Arise" and "awake" evokes vivid imagery of a judge taking the bench, a sovereign preparing to issue a decree, or a warrior rousing himself for battle, ready to execute a verdict. The "rage" of enemies (Hebrew _'ebrâh_) speaks to intense, overflowing hostility, often associated with unjust aggression and violent intent. The appeal for "judgment" (_mishpâṭ_) was not merely a request for vengeance but for the restoration of cosmic and social order, a re-establishment of righteousness in a world disrupted by wickedness, aligning with the ancient understanding of divine justice as foundational to societal well-being.
* **Key Themes:** Psalm 7:6 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully articulates the theme of **Divine Intervention**, portraying God not as a distant or passive deity but as one who actively engages in human affairs, particularly in response to injustice and the cries of His people. The repeated imperatives for God to "Arise," "lift up thyself," and "awake" are fervent pleas for God to manifest His power and authority against the forces of evil, echoing similar calls throughout the Psalms, such as in [Psalm 3:7](/psalms/3-7 "Psalm 3:7 - David's Cry for Deliverance"). Secondly, the verse underscores the foundational truth of **God as Righteous Judge**. David's appeal is rooted in the unwavering conviction that God is inherently just and will ultimately judge the wicked and vindicate the righteous, a theme central to the entirety of [Psalm 96](/psalms/96 "Psalm 96 - God's Righteous Judgment"). Thirdly, it highlights the **Vindication of the Innocent**, as David's prayer is a desperate cry for his name to be cleared and for God to punish those who rage against him without cause, reflecting a deep human desire for fairness and accountability, a theme also seen in [Psalm 35](/psalms/35 "Psalm 35 - David's Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies"). Finally, the phrase "judgment that thou hast commanded" speaks to **Confidence in God's Commanded Judgment**, emphasizing that God's justice is not arbitrary but is based on His established moral order and divine decrees, ensuring its absolute righteousness and truth, as seen in [Deuteronomy 32:4](/deuteronomy/32-4 "Deuteronomy 32:4 - God's Perfect Works and Justice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Arise (Hebrew, _qûwm'_):** This imperative verb (H6965) is a strong, urgent command, often used in the Psalms to call upon God to rouse Himself to action, particularly in a judicial or military context. It implies a perceived state of inaction from the human perspective, a desperate plea for God to manifest His power and presence, like a judge taking the bench or a warrior preparing for battle. It signifies a demand for immediate, decisive divine intervention to change the current circumstances.
* **Rage (Hebrew, _ʻebrâh'_):** This noun (H5678) denotes an intense, overflowing outburst of passion, wrath, or fury. It describes the overwhelming and malicious hostility of David's enemies, highlighting the severity and unreasonableness of the threat he faced. It suggests a violent, uncontrolled outpouring of anger that seeks to harm and destroy, often without just cause, making the divine response all the more necessary.
* **Judgment (Hebrew, _mishpâṭ'_):** This multifaceted term (H4941) refers to God's divine justice, His legal decision, and the act of upholding righteousness and righting wrongs. It encompasses both the process of judgment and the righteous verdict itself, including the formal decree or sentence. David's appeal is for God to execute His just sentence, to restore order, and to vindicate him according to God's established moral law and His inherent character as the righteous judge.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Arise, O LORD, in thine anger,"**: This is a fervent, direct imperative, a plea for God to rise up and act. The psalmist calls upon God to manifest His divine wrath against the injustice he is experiencing. This is not a request for arbitrary anger, but for the righteous indignation of a holy God against sin and oppression. It implies a desire for God to cease His apparent patience and unleash His just response, aligning His action with His holy character.
* **"lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies:"**: This phrase reinforces the preceding call to action, urging God to assert His authority and take a prominent, elevated stand. The motivation for this divine action is explicitly stated: the overwhelming, malicious fury of David's adversaries. This highlights the severity of the threat and the psalmist's helplessness without God's intervention, emphasizing the need for God to demonstrate His supremacy over all opposition.
* **"and awake for me [to] the judgment [that] thou hast commanded."**: This final clause reiterates the plea for God to rouse Himself to action, specifically for the purpose of executing judgment. The phrase "for me" emphasizes the personal nature of the appeal, as David seeks vindication and deliverance from his specific plight. Crucially, the judgment is described as "that thou hast commanded," signifying that God's justice is not arbitrary or capricious, but is rooted in His eternal decrees, His moral character, and His covenant promises. David trusts that God's judgment is righteous, predetermined, and inevitable, providing a sure foundation for his desperate plea.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 7:6 is rich in **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human actions and characteristics to God. The psalmist calls upon God to "Arise," "lift up thyself," and "awake," depicting God as if He were in a state of repose and now needs to be roused to action. This is not a theological statement about God's literal slumber, but a rhetorical device employed to express the psalmist's desperate desire for God's manifest and decisive intervention in his circumstances. The pervasive use of the **Imperative Mood** throughout the verse ("Arise," "lift up," "awake") powerfully conveys the urgency and intensity of David's prayer, reflecting his deep distress and his absolute reliance on divine power. There is also an element of **Parallelism** in the repeated calls for God to act, reinforcing the central plea for divine justice and emphasizing the psalmist's earnestness. The imagery of God "lifting up Himself" can also be seen as a **Metaphor** for God asserting His supreme authority and taking His rightful place as the cosmic Judge, demonstrating His power and sovereignty over all earthly opposition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 7:6 powerfully articulates the biblical truth that God is the supreme and righteous Judge of all the earth, actively involved in upholding justice and righting wrongs. It highlights the believer's recourse to divine justice when human systems fail or when facing unmerited oppression. The psalmist's confidence in God's "commanded" judgment underscores the immutability of God's moral law and His unwavering commitment to His own character. This verse teaches us that God's anger is not capricious but is a holy, just response to sin and injustice, ultimately leading to the vindication of His people and the punishment of the wicked. It provides a theological framework for understanding suffering in the face of unrighteousness, offering profound hope in God's ultimate and perfect justice and encouraging believers to trust in His sovereign oversight of all circumstances.

* [Psalm 35:23](/psalms/35-23 "A Plea for God to Awaken to Judgment")
* [Psalm 96:13](/psalms/96-13 "God Will Judge the Earth with Righteousness")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Vengeance Belongs to the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 7:6 provides a profound and enduring model for prayer when we find ourselves facing injustice, false accusations, or overwhelming opposition. It reminds us that God is not indifferent to our suffering or to the pervasive wickedness in the world. He is a righteous Judge who hears the cries of His people and will ultimately bring about justice according to His perfect timing and divine command. In moments of deep distress, when our enemies rage and human remedies seem futile, this verse encourages us to confidently bring our pleas for vindication and intervention directly to God, trusting that He is both able and willing to act on our behalf. It empowers us to persevere in faith, knowing that our ultimate hope for justice rests in the hands of a sovereign and righteous God who sees, knows, and will "awake" to act on behalf of His own. This psalm invites us to trust in God's active presence and His unwavering commitment to justice, even when His intervention seems delayed from our limited perspective, fostering patience and an enduring hope in His perfect plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's immediate and direct appeal to God in this verse challenge or affirm your own patterns of prayer when facing injustice?**
* **What does it mean for God's judgment to be "commanded," and how does this truth provide comfort or conviction in your life?**
* **In what ways can you "awake" to God's call for justice in your own sphere of influence, even as you pray for His ultimate intervention?**

### FAQ
**Why does David ask God to "awake" or "arise" if God is omnipresent and always active?**

Answer: The language used by David—"Arise," "lift up thyself," "awake"—is an example of **anthropomorphic language**, attributing human actions or states to God. It does not imply that God is literally sleeping, unaware, or inactive. Rather, it is a fervent and desperate plea from the psalmist's human perspective for God to manifest His power and presence in a decisive and visible way. When David asks God to "awake for me to the judgment," he is not suggesting God is unaware or indifferent, but that he longs for God to *act* in a way that is evident and brings about the justice he seeks. It's a call for God to move from a state of perceived patience or hiddenness to one of overt, powerful intervention, like a judge taking the bench to deliver a verdict or a warrior rising to engage in battle. This kind of language expresses the psalmist's deep yearning for God's manifest righteousness to be seen and experienced in his immediate circumstances, as also seen in [Psalm 44:23](/psalms/44-23 "Psalm 44:23 - A Plea for God to Awaken").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 7:6, with its fervent plea for divine judgment and vindication, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "anger" of the LORD against sin and injustice, which David calls upon, was fully poured out upon Christ on the cross, as He, the innocent Lamb of God, bore the full weight of the wrath due to humanity's sin, becoming the ultimate sacrifice for our transgressions ([Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "God's Wrath Against Sin") and [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Christ's Suffering for Our Sins")). Furthermore, Jesus is the one through whom God's "commanded judgment" will be perfectly executed. The Father "has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man" ([John 5:27](/john/5-27 "Jesus' Authority to Judge")). While David cried for vindication against his enemies, Christ, the truly innocent one, was unjustly condemned, yet God "arose" and "lifted Him up" in the resurrection, vindicating Him gloriously and establishing Him as Lord and Christ ([Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "God Raised Jesus from the Dead") and [Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "God Exalted Christ")). Believers, united with Christ, are now vindicated in Him, their sins judged in His body, and they await His glorious return when He will "awake" to judge the living and the dead, bringing final justice and righteousness to the world ([2 Timothy 4:1](/2_timothy/4-1 "Christ Will Judge the Living and the Dead") and [Revelation 20:11-15](/revelation/20-11-15 "The Great White Throne Judgment")). Thus, the psalmist's cry for God to "awake to the judgment" is fully realized in the past work of the cross and the future return of the King of kings, who will finally establish His righteous reign ([Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11-16 "Christ the Righteous Judge and Warrior")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 44:23

Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast [us] not off for ever.

Psalms 35:23

Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Psalms 3:7

Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies [upon] the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Psalms 138:7

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

Psalms 44:26

Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

Isaiah 33:10

Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

Psalms 103:6

¶ The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.