“Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.”
The psalmist appeals to God 'Awake and rise to my defense, my God and my Lord, for my vindication.' The verbs 'awake' and 'rise' suggest that God needs to be called to active engagement, though the psalmist understands that God's 'awakening' is figurative. The appeal to God as both 'my God and my Lord' emphasizes the fullness of the relationship and the propriety of the request. The phrase 'for my vindication' clarifies that the psalmist seeks not revenge but the restoration of his righteous status and honor.
Church Fathers on Psalms 35:23
1. ...The title of it causes us no delay, for it is both brief, and to be understood not difficult, especially to those nursed in the Church of God. For so it is, “To David himself.” The Psalm then is to David himself: now David is interpreted, Strong in hand, or Desirable. The Psalm then is to the Strong in hand, and Desirable, to Him who for us has overcome death, who unto us has promised life: for in this is He Strong in hand, that He has overcome death for us; in this is…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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