The Pulpit Commentary
The cry for vengeance. Israel is suffering oppression—not, however, from foreign enemies, but from domestic tyrants (Psa_94:4-6). Innocent blood is shed; the widow and the orphan are trodden down. God, it is supposed, will not see or will not regard (Psa_94:7). The psalmist, therefore, cries out to God to manifest himself by taking signal vengeance on the evil doers (Psa_94:1, Psa_94:2).

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth (comp. Deu_32:35, "To me belongeth vengeance and recompence;" and Jer_51:56, where God is called "the Lord God of reeompences," as he is here—literally—"the Lord God of vengeances"). O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself; or, "shine forth"—make thy justice to appear; show thyself in thy character of a God who will by no means clear the guilty (Exo_34:7).

The Pulpit Commentary
Lift up thyself (comp. Psa_7:6; Isa_33:10). "Rouse thyself," that is, "from thy state of inaction"—come and visit the earth as Judge. Thou Judge of the earth (comp. Gen_18:25; Psa_58:11). Render a reward to the proud; rather, render a recompense—as the same phrase is translated in Lam_3:64.

The Pulpit Commentary
Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? "How long?" is the continual cry of the psalmists to God, as it is of the souls under the altar (Rev_6:10; comp. above, Psa_6:3; Psa_13:1, Psa_13:2; Psa_35:7; Psa_74:10; Psa_79:5; Psa_89:46; Psa_90:13). It is a cry of weakness and impatience, but has an element of faith in it, on which God looks with favour.

The Pulpit Commentary
How long shall they utter and speak hard things? rather, they pour forth, they utter arrogant things; literally, arrogance. And all the workers of iniquity boast themselves; or, "carry themselves proudly" (Cheyne).

The Pulpit Commentary
They break in pieces thy people, O Lord; or, "crush," "oppress" (comp. Isa_3:15; Pro_22:22, where the verb is evidently used, not of foreign foes, but of domestic oppressors). And afflict thine heritage; or, "thine inheritance"—those whom thou hast taken to be thy "peculiar people" (Deu_14:2), thine own exclusive possession.

The Pulpit Commentary
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless (comp. Isa_1:17-23; Isa_10:2; Eze_22:6-9; Mal_3:5; also Psa_10:8-10).

The Pulpit Commentary
Yet they say, The Lord shall not see (comp. Psa_10:11, Psa_10:13). Foreign enemies did not suppose that Jehovah would not see, but trusted that their own gods were stronger than he, and would protect them (2Ki_18:33-35). Neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. "The God of Jacob" would not be a natural expression in the mouth of Israel's foreign foes. They knew nothing of Jacob. But it was an expression frequently used by Israelites (Gen_49:24; Psa_20:1; Psa_46:7; Psa_75:9; Psa_76:6; Psa_81:1, Psa_81:4; Isa_2:3; Isa_41:21; Mic_4:2, etc.).

The Pulpit Commentary
The appeal to Israel. The oppressors thought that their conduct would not be observed by God, or would not be taken into account. The psalmist appeals to them not to be so brutish and foolish (Psa_94:8), and argues, from the first principles of natural theology, that God must see and hear (Psa_94:9). If he chastises the heathen, why should he not also punish them (Psa_94:10)?

Understand, ye brutish among the people (comp. Psa_92:6). That there were among God's people some so "brutish" as to suppose that God either did not see or did not regard their misdoings, appears also from Psa_10:11, Psa_10:13. And ye fools, when will ye be wise? When will ye put away your folly, and allow Wisdom to enter into your hearts? She is always crying in the streets: when will ye consent to listen (comp. Pro_1:20-23)?

The Pulpit Commentary
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? This argument for a real, personal, intelligent God appears here, for the first time. It is of irresistible force. "Can it be possible that God, who planned and made the curious mechanism of hearing and vision, is himself without those faculties, or something analogous to them? Must he not hear those cries, and see those outrages, which men, who are his creatures, see and hear? Is it conceivable that he can be an unobservant and apathetic God?" (Cheyne).

The Pulpit Commentary
He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? i.e. if God does not leave even the heathen without rebukes and chastisements, shall he not much more punish those among his own people who do amiss? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? Our version supposes an ellipse, which it fills up with great boldness, producing a very excellent sense. But the insertion made does not appear necessary (see the Revised Version).

The Pulpit Commentary
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man. Not only does the Almighty see and know all the actions of men (Psa_94:9), but he is even acquainted with their thoughts (comp. Psa_7:9; Psa_26:2; Psa_139:17; Isa_66:18; 1Co_3:20). That they are vanity (comp. Ecc_2:14, Ecc_2:15).

The Pulpit Commentary
The blessedness of the righteous. The psalmist proceeds to console and comfort himself by considering in how many ways the righteous man is blessed.

1. God chastises him.

2. God teaches him.

3. God gives him a time of rest.

4. God never forsakes him.

5. God judges him righteously.

6. God helps him against evil doers (Psa_94:16, Psa_94:17).

7. God upholds him when he is in danger of falling.

8. God inwardly comforts his soul.

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord. The blessedness of chastening appears in Deu_7:5; 2Sa_7:14, 2Sa_7:15; Job_5:17; Psa_89:32, Psa_89:33; Pro_3:12; and is the main point of Elihu's teaching in Job_33:15-30. It is not, as some have argued, entirely a New Testament doctrine. Unassisted human reason might discover it. Greek poets noted the connection between παθεῖν and μαθεῖν. Our own great dramatist draws upon his experience when he says-

"Sweet are the uses of adversity;

Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,

Bears yet a precious jewel in his head."

And teachest him out of thy Law. The existence of "the Law," and the general knowledge of it by God's people, is assumed here, as elsewhere in the Psalms (see especially Psa_119:1-176.). Also it is assumed that "the Law" is a revelation from God.

The Pulpit Commentary
That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity. Trials and afflictions are means to an end, and the intended end is "rest" and peace. "There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God" (Heb_4:9). Until the pit be digged for the wicked (comp. Psa_9:1; Psa_35:7, Psa_35:8).

The Pulpit Commentary
For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance (comp. Deu_4:31; 1Sa_12:22; 1Ki_6:13; Isa_41:17). However long God's chastisements continue (see Psa_94:3), the faithful may be sure that God has not forsaken, and never will forsake, them, since "he forsaketh not his saints, but they are preserved forever" (Psa_37:28). The promise is made equally to the faithful individuals ("his saints") and to faithful Churches ("his people," "his inheritance").

The Pulpit Commentary
But judgment shall return unto righteousness. "Judgment," i.e. God's actual award of good and evil upon the earth, which has seemed to be divorced from justice, while the ungodly have prospered and the pious been afflicted (Psa_94:3-6), shall in the end "return unto righteousness," i.e. once more, evidently, conform to it and coincide with it. And all the upright in heart shall follow it; i.e. "and then all honest hearted men shall recognize the fact, see it, and rejoice in it."

The Pulpit Commentary
Who will rise up for me against the evil doers? or, who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? But meanwhile, until this happy time come, what is the condition of the godly? Are they not left a prey to the evil doers, at their mercy, without a champion? The answer is given in the next verse.

The Pulpit Commentary
Unless the Lord had been my Help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. No; they are not without a champion; Jehovah is their Help. It is a part of their blessedness (Psa_94:12), that they are preserved. in life and protected from the wicked, by God himself. Otherwise they "had soon dwelt in silence." Their soul had gone down to the pit, to the abyss of Sheol, the silent land (comp. Psa_115:17).

The Pulpit Commentary
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. Another respect in which the godly, even though suffering affliction, are blessed. God upholds their tottering feet, and, when they are in danger, keeps them from falling.

The Pulpit Commentary
In the multitude of my thoughts within me; rather, my various thoughts, "my busy thoughts." Sarappim (as Dr. Kay observes) "are anxious, perplexing, branchings of thoughts," such as continually vex faithful yet doubting souls. Thy comforts delight my soul. Internal comfort is given by God himself to the perplexed and troubled in spirit, whereby they are "delighted," or, rather, "soothed and solaced."

The Pulpit Commentary
The destruction of the evil doers. There can be no fellowship between light and darkness—between God and evildoers, especially those who carry out their wicked purposes under the forms of law (Psa_94:20), and go the length of condemning innocent blood (Psa_94:21). Such persons God, who defends the righteous (Psa_94:22), will assuredly bring to utter destruction (Psa_94:23).

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee? The interrogative is here, as so often, an emphatic negative. By "the throne of iniquity" is meant iniquity in high places, wickedness enthroned upon the judgment seat, and thence delivering its unjust sentences. Oppressors in Israel made a large use of the machinery of the law to crush and ruin their victims (see Isa_1:23; Isa_10:1, Isa_10:2; Amo_5:7; Amo_6:12, etc.). Which frameth mischief by a law; i.e. which effects its mischievous purposes by means of the decrees of courts.

The Pulpit Commentary
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. A Messianic allusion is possible, but not necessary.

The Pulpit Commentary
But the Lord is my Defence; and my God is the Rock of my refuge (comp. Psa_18:2).

The Pulpit Commentary
And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity. Most manifestly when he makes them fall into their own snare (Psa_7:15; Psa_35:8; Psa_57:6; Psa_141:9, Psa_141:10), but really also whenever he punishes them for their sins. And shall cut them off; or, "destroy," "exterminate" them. In their own wickedness; or, "by their wickedness." The wicked man is often "hoist with his own petard." Yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off. The repetition, like that in Psa_94:1, is emphatic, and solemnly confirms the entire section (Psa_94:20-23).