5. Thou, thyself, work for me personally. Therefore,
because I am unjustly assailed, and cannot help myself. O Lord, ever-living; God of hosts,
able to rescue me; the God of Israel, pledged by covenant to redeem
thine oppressed servant; awake to visit all the heathen, arouse thy holy
mind, bestow thy sacred energies, punish the heathen among thine Israel, the
falsehearted who say they are Jews and are not. Let all the nations of thine
enemies know that thou art judging and punishing. It is the mark of a
thoughtful prayer that the titles which are applied to God are appropriate, and
are, as it were, congruous to the matter, and fitted to add force to the
argument. Will Jehovah endure to see his people oppressed? Will the God of
hosts permit his enemies to exult over his servant? Will the faithful God of a
chosen people leave his chosen to perish? The name of God is, even in a literal
sense, a fortress and high tower for all his people. What a forceful petition
is contained in the words awake to visit! Actively punish, in wisdom
judge, with force chastise. Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors.
Be merciful to them as men, but not as transgressors; if they continue hardened
in their sin, do not wink at their oppression. The psalmist feels that the
overthrow of oppression which was so needful for himself must be equally
desirable for multitudes of the godly placed in like positions, and therefore
he prays for the whole company of the faithful, and against the entire
confraternity of traitors. Selah. Who would not sit still and consider,
when vengeance is being meted out to all the enemies of God?
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