This is a metaphor to describe how the people and their leaders have become so weak and unable to fight the enemy. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
This a common way (an idiom) to use the action of lifting to metaphorically represent praying earnestly to Yahweh who is above us. AT: "pray earnestly" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])