Psalms94
New King James Version
1 O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs— O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud.
3 Lord, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph?
4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
5 They break in pieces Your people, O Lord, And afflict Your heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, “The Lord does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”
8 Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.
12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law,
13 That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
15 But judgment will return to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence.
18 If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.
19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
20 Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You?
21 They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood.
22 But the Lord has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He has brought on them their own iniquity, And shall cut them off in their own wickedness; The Lord our God shall cut them off.
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Psalms 94Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 94. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The danger and folly of persecutors. (1–11). Comfort and peace to the persecuted. (12–23).
vv1-11
We may with boldness appeal to God; for he is the almighty Judge by whom every man is judged. Let this encourage those who suffer wrong, to bear it with silence, committing themselves to Him who judges righteously. These prayers are prophecies, which speak terror to the sons of violence. There will come a day of reckoning for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against God, his truths, and ways, and people. It would hardly be believed, if we did not witness it, that millions of rational creatures should live, move, speak, hear, understand, and do what they purpose, yet act as if they believed that God would not punish the abuse of his gifts. As all knowledge is from God, no doubt he knows all the thoughts of the children of men, and knows that the imaginations of the thoughts of men's hearts are only evil, and that continually. Even in good thoughts there is a want of being fixed, which may be called vanity. It concerns us to keep a strict watch over our thoughts, because God takes particular notice of them. Thoughts are words to God.
vv12-23
That man is blessed, who, under the chastening of the Lord, is taught his will and his truths, from his holy word, and by the Holy Spirit. He should see mercy through his sufferings. There is a rest remaining for the people of God after the days of their adversity, which shall not last always. He that sends the trouble, will send the rest. The psalmist found succour and relief only in the Lord, when all earthly friends failed. We are beholden, not only to God's power, but to his pity, for spiritual supports; and if we have been kept from falling into sin, or shrinking from our duty, we should give him the glory, and encourage our brethren. The psalmist had many troubled thoughts concerning the case he was in, concerning the course he should take, and what was likely to be the end of it. The indulgence of such contrivances and fears, adds to care and distrust, and renders our views more gloomy and confused. Good men sometimes have perplexed and distressed thoughts concerning God. But let them look to the great and precious promises of the gospel. The world's comforts give little delight to the soul, when hurried with melancholy thoughts; but God's comforts bring that peace and pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give, and which the frowns of the world cannot take away. God is his people's Refuge, to whom they may flee, in whom they are safe, and may be secure. And he will reckon with the wicked. A man cannot be more miserable than his own wickedness will make him, if the Lord visit it upon him.
Key Words
אֵל: strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
נְקָמָה: avengement, whether the act of the passion
יָפַע: to shine
נָשָׂא: to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
שָׁפַט: to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively)
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
שׁוּב: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
גֵּאֶה: lofty; figuratively, arrogant
גְּמוּל: treatment, i.e. an act (of good or ill); by implication, service or requital
Cross References
Psalms 94Paul quotes this verse directly to show the futility of human wisdom apart from God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Paul quotes the Greek translation of this verse to argue that God has not rejected Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes God's covenantal prerogative as the sole rightful executioner of vengeance and justice.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The classic New Testament exposition on the blessings, necessity, and purposes of divine chastening.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Commands believers to defer to God's ultimate justice rather than taking vengeance themselves.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the wicked's foolish delusion that God is blind or indifferent to their crimes.
Supported by JFB
Uses identical terminology of 'brutishness' to describe humans lacking spiritual discernment.
Supported by JFB
Reinforces that spiritually 'brutish' men cannot comprehend God's deep thoughts or providential judgments.
Supported by JFB
Confirms God's absolute omniscience based on His active creation of the sensory organs.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Uses the same metaphor of 'silence' to depict the quiet of the grave.
Supported by JFB
Expresses identical trust in God as the believer's secure high tower and defense.
Supported by JFB
Matches the poetic justice of the wicked being destroyed by their own devices.
Supported by JFB