Bible Commentaries
Psalms 94

Verses 1-23

Psalms 94

Complaint and Comfort

Scripture v. 1-23:

This Psalm opens with a complaint against delayed judgment against the oppressors of the godly.

Verses 1, 2 appeal to the Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs, to "show himself," or shine forth in His judgment-glory, Deuteronomy 32:35; Nahum 1:2. As judge of the earth He is asked to lift Himself up (exalt himself) before the proud heathen and render to them a just reward or retribution for their sins, Genesis 18:25; Psalms 50:6; John 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8; Psalms 7:6; Psalms 28:4.

Verses 3, 4 lament just "how long" shall the wicked triumph, repeatedly uttering, speaking hard things, and boast in their working of iniquities? As also related Job 10:5; Psalms 75:5; Psalms 31:18; Judges 1:15. See also Psalms 31:19; Psalms 59:7; Psalms 59:12; Psalms 64:3-4; Psalms 73:8-9; Psalms 140:3.

Verses 5, 6 charge that "they break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage; As Pharaoh did to Israel, Genesis 15:13; Exodus 1:12; Psalms 79:1.
Verse 6 adds "they slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless," the orphans, without compassion toward old or young; Perhaps this alludes to the cruelty of the Assyrians and Chaldees against Israel, 2 Chronicles 36:17. Such moved God to compassion toward the oppressed, Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalms 68:5; Exodus 20:13; Exodus 22:22.

Verses 7, 8 describe the atheistic attitude of Israel’s op­pressors who said that the Lord neither sees their oppression nor does the God of Jacob pay attention to it, Job 22:13; Psalms 10:4; Psalms 92:6; Psalms 53:1. The brutish and fools who defy God and oppress His people are asked if they will never come to understand, be wise, or fear God, Proverbs 1:7.

Verses 9, 10 rhetorically ask if the creator who planted the ear in man shall not hear the prayer of the godly and blasphemy of the wicked and He that made the eye shall see, will he not? Genesis 1:26: Exodus 4:11; 2 Samuel 22:7; Isaiah 59:1; Genesis 6:5.
Verse 10 adds, "shall not He who chastened the heathen correct those in wrong?" implying He will, Psalms 89:32. And shall not He know who teaches man knowledge? Job 35:11; Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 28:26; Isaiah 54:13; John 6:45.

Verse 11 asserted that the Lord knows the thoughts of man, in his natural state, that they are vain, wholly inclined to covetous vanity, 1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Corinthians 3:20; See too Deuteronomy 15:9; 1 Samuel 2:3; Proverbs 15:26: Genesis 6:5; Psalms 40:17.

Verse 13 states that this chastening is designed to be to bring him to rest from the day of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked, until their full and final punishment. God chastens His own, that, they may not be judged finally with the world, 1 Corinthians 11:31-32; Exodus 33:14; Proverbs 11:5.

Verses 14, 15 assures that God will not cast off (disclaim or abandon) His people, nor forsake His inheritance. But judgment shall turn back His heritage to righteousness, and all those upright in heart will follow after Him and His laws, in that day, Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 1:6; Deuteronomy 4:31; 1 Kings 6:13; Jeremiah 33:25-26; Romans 11:2. See also Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 42:3; Micah 7:9; Hosea 6:3; Romans 8:23.

Verse 16 questions just who will rise up as my defense against evil doers or stand up for me against continual workers of iniquity, except the Lord? Psalms 46:1; Exodus 32:16; Psalms 34:16; Psalms 119:115.

Verses 17, 18 witness that except the Lord had been the Psalmist’s help, his soul would have quickly dwelt in the silence of death; He would have been slain, La 3:22; Deuteronomy 32:29; Psalms 27:13.
Verse 18 adds "when I said, (in a cry of despair) my foot slippeth; Thy mercy O Lord, held me up," and helped in every moment of trouble, Exodus 19:4; Psalms 73; Psalms 2; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Matthew 14:30-31.

b relates that in the multitude of the Psalmist’s frustrated, conflicting thoughts, God’s comforts came to delight his soul, to cheer him out of the fear and dread of man and death, Genesis 24:63; Psalms 71:21; Ezra 6:22.

Verse 20 inquires "Shall the throne (reign) of iniquity have fel­lowship with thee?" be sanctioned by you; it will not, will it? Deuteronomy 27:19; For sin separates the righteous from the unrighteous, Exodus 33:3. For the wicked frames wickedness continually, trying to justify it by a law, (making new laws) against the law of God, Deuteronomy 16:19; See also Psalms 52:1; Psalms 82:1; Amos 6:3; 2Co 6;14; also Psalms 58:2; Isaiah 10:1.

Verse 21 charges that the wicked assemble in collusion against the soul of the righteous, and they condemn (to death) the blood-life of the innocent, even prophetically inclusive of that of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Matthew 27:1; Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 17:15; See also Joshua 9:2; Ezra 3:9; Psalms 71; Psalms 19; Psalms 109:20; Deuteronomy 19:10; Isaiah 59:7.

Verse 22 rejoices "But the Lord is my defense; And my God is the rock (support, security) of my refuge," a sure God and a safe refuge indeed! 2 Samuel 22:2; Psalms 5:11; Deuteronomy 32:4. He is an high tower of defensive strength, above all, Romans 8:28.

Verse 23 concludes that God will bring upon the wicked the full penalty of their unconfessed iniquities, cutting them off from His mercies forever, Proverbs 29:1; Romans 2:1-2; So that they are punished forever, without excuse, Proverbs 1:21-28; Proverbs 2:22; Proverbs 5:22; Jeremiah 2:19. Their recompense will be just, Isaiah 59:18; Job 18:8; Psalms 34:21; Job 22:16.