Psalms 94
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“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” — John 5:39
1O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
PSALM 94
Psa 94:1-23. The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of enemies, rebukes them for their wickedness and folly, and encourages himself, in the confidence that God will punish evildoers, and favor His people.
1-2. God's revenge is His judicial infliction of righteous punishment.
show thyself--(Compare Margin).
2Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
3LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
3-4. In an earnest expostulation he expresses his desire that the insolent triumph of the wicked may be ended.
4How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
5-6. thy people [and] thine heritage--are synonymous, the people being often called God's heritage. As justice to the weak is a sign of the best government, their oppression is a sign of the worst (De 10:18; Is 10:2).
6They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
7. Their cruelty is only exceeded by their wicked and absurd presumption (Psa 10:11; 59:7).
8Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
8. ye brutish--(Compare Psa 73:22; 92:6).
9He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
9-11. The evidence of God's providential government is found in His creative power and omniscience, which also assure us that He can punish the wicked in regard to all their vain purposes.
10He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
12-13. On the other hand He favors though He chastens, the pious, and will teach and preserve them till the prosperous wicked are overthrown.
13That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
14For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
14-15. This results from His abiding love (De 32:15), which is further evinced by His restoring order in His government, whose right administration will be approved by the good.
15But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
16Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
16. These questions imply that none other than God will help (Psa 60:9),
17Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
17-19. a fact fully confirmed by his past experience.
dwelt in silence--as in the grave (Psa 31:17).
18When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
19In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
20Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
20. throne--power, rulers.
iniquity [and] mischief--both denote evils done to others, as Psa 94:21 explains.
21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
22But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
22-23. Yet he is safe in God's care.
defence--(Psa 59:9).
rock of ... refuge--(Psa 9:9; 18:2).
23And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.
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