Psalms 44:23

Awake … arise Bestir thyself … awake. Cp. Psalms 7:6, and many similar invocations. But nowhere else do we find so bold an expostulation as why sleepest thou? The nearest parallel is in Psalms 78:65. The Psalmists do not shrink from using human language in reference to God, though they well knew that the Watchman of Israel was one who neither slumbered nor slept (Psalms 121:3-4).

It is recorded in the Talmud that in the time of the high-priest John Hyrcanus (b.c. 135 107) certain Levites, called -Awakeners," daily ascended the pulpit in the Temple and cried, "Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord"? He put a stop to the practice, saying, "Does Deity sleep? Has not the Scripture said, -Behold he that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth?" "

castus not off for ever Cp. Psalms 74:1; Psalms 77:7; Lamentations 3:31.