Introduction
This is a psalm which focuses on the injustices in life that the righteous are facing due to the conduct of those who are morally wicked, Psalm 37 / Psalm 49 / Psalm 72.
Despite all the injustices caused by the wicked, the psalmist relies upon the grace of God to help them through.
There is no heading for this psalm, so we don’t know who the author is, however, Jewish tradition accredits Psalms 90-100 to Moses. Other Psalms written by Moses are also found in Exodus 15, and i Deuteronomy 32.
‘The LORD is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, LORD; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.” Psalm 94:1-7
The psalmist begins by informing us that vengeance belongs to the LORD, and because God is the One who avenges, they ask God to shine forth. They ask God to rise up, Judge the earth and pay back to the proud what they deserve.
In other words, because of all the injustices of the wicked, they called on God to render vengeance on those who were persecuting His people, Deuteronomy 32:35 / Jeremiah 51:56 / Romans 12:19.
The psalmist now asks God how long before God will rise and take vengeance on the wicked, Revelation 6:9-10. Notice how the psalmist describes the wicked, first of all, he describes what they do with their mouths.
They pour out arrogant words, that is, they use words of defiance, Proverbs 14:16 / Romans 12:16, and they are full of boasting, that is, they boast about themselves, Jeremiah 9:23 / 1 Corinthians 1:31.
Secondly, the psalmist describes what they do physically to others. They crush God’s people, that is, they destroy God’s people, Isaiah 5:18-24 / Isaiah 3:15 / Lamentations 3:34. They oppress God’s inheritance, that is, they put pressure on God’s own people, Deuteronomy 32:9.
They slay the widows and the foreigners and murder the fatherless, that is, they attack and kill those who are the weakest and most vulnerable in society, those who were unable to defend themselves, Psalm 68:5 / Psalm 82:3 / Isaiah 1:17.
They do all these things and say that God doesn’t see what they are doing, they arrogantly say the God of Jacob takes no notice, that is, He just ignores what they are doing, 2 Kings 21:16. Though the wicked think that they can conceal their evil deeds from God, they will eventually reap the vengeance of God.
‘Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? The LORD knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile. Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.’ Psalm 94:8-15
After describing the evil actions of the wicked who were saying, the God of Jacob takes no notice, the psalmist now tells the wicked to take notice. He calls them senseless and fools because they have no real understanding of God, Psalm 92:6.
The psalmist asks a series of questions, when will they become wise? This can only happen when they acknowledge the existence of God and be fearful of Him, Proverbs 1:7.
The next question has an obvious answer, it was God who created the human ear, and so, he can certainly hear what’s being said by these wicked people.
The next question also has an obvious answer, it was God who created the human eye, and so, he can certainly see what’s being done by these wicked people.
The next question also has an obvious answer, it was God who created the nations and so He has the right to discipline them, Job 12:23. The next question also has an obvious answer, God is the great teacher and lacks no knowledge, 1 John 3:20.
The psalmist says that God knows all our plans and He knows they are futile. No one can be compared to God and the wisdom and knowledge He has, Psalm 94:11 / Romans 1:21 / 1 Corinthians 3:20.
God is omniscient, and so, knows all things, God is omnipresent and is wherever we are. God is omnipotent, and so, He is able to bring judgment on the wicked wherever they are.
Those who are wise enough to listen to God will be blessed by God when He disciplines them, Hebrews 12:5-11. Those who are wise enough to listen to God will be blessed by God.
He will teach them His laws, Proverbs 9:7 / Job 4:3 / Psalm 16:7 and give them relief from their troubles when trouble comes, Exodus 33:14 / Matthew 11:28.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Two great blessings are mentioned here for the sufferers. 1. God will give them peace and rest spiritually, even during their afflictions, and 2. Meanwhile, the pit is being dug for the wicked into which they shall surely fall. It is evident that God’s punishment of evil-doers, while inevitable and certain, in many instances must wait a. until their wickedness has run its course, or b. until God’s preparation for their punishment is complete.’
The psalmist tells assures the righteous that God will not reject or forsake His inheritance, that is Israel, Deuteronomy 31:6 / 1 Samuel 12:22 / 1 Kings 6:13 / Romans 11:1-2. God also promises that His righteousness will reign again, and as a result, the righteous will follow it.
There is a final judgment day when all will be judged, Romans 2:6-10, and the righteous will be delivered out of the oppression of the wicked, for the wicked will pass away, Matthew 25:46 / 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9.
‘Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them.’ Psalm 94:16-23
The psalmist now asks who will rise up with him against the wicked? Who will take a stand for him against evildoers? This is an acknowledgement of their own human limitations concerning those who are wicked. These are rhetorical questions that the psalmist answered himself.
Though no one would stand with the psalmist, they were assured that God was there for them. God would help them, if it wasn’t for God, they would have dwelt in the silence of death, that is, they would have gone to the grave, Amos 8:3.
It was because of God’s unfailing love that saved the psalmist’s foot from slipping, that is, God supported them and stopped them from falling. When the psalmist was anxious, God calmed them down. They were comforted when they realised that God was with them, Romans 8:28.
The psalmist now asks two more questions, can a corrupt throne be allied with you—a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? Sometimes it appears that iniquity is enthroned in society, and so, righteous people have no chance, 1 John 1:6.
The wicked ruler uses the law to carry out their wicked deeds against the people, but they can’t claim they are working on God’s behalf.
The wicked banding together against the righteous and condemning the innocent to death is common among those who hate God’s people, 1 John 3:13.
Despite the wicked oppressing the weak and the righteous in society, the psalmist knows that God is their fortress, that is, a place of security. They know that God is their Rock, that is, their place of refuge.
The psalmist ends by reminding the righteous that God will bring down the unrighteous and He will deliver the oppressed. Knowing that the wicked will eventually come to an end gives confidence to the righteous, Matthew 25:46 / 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9.
God will repay the wicked for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness, in other words, they are going to reap what they had sown, 1 Kings 2:32 / Esther 3:8-15 / Esther 5:14 / Esther 7:4-10 / Hosea 8:7 / Galatians 6:7-8.
Conclusion
The psalmist ended this psalm by reminding us that the wicked will reap what they sow, Romans 14:12. The Bible teaches that we reap what we sow in this life, Hosea 8:7 / Matthew 7:15 / Romans 2:6 / 2 Corinthians 9:6, but it would be a serious mistake to believe that we can escape the consequences of our actions, Romans 2:6.
In Galatians 6:7-8 Paul is basically teaching, what he’s been teaching throughout the book of Galatians, he’s contrasting all those who sow to please the Spirit, Galatians 5:16 / Galatians 5:18 / Galatians 5:25, with those who sow to please the flesh, Galatians 5:13 / Galatians 5:19.
Those who sow to please the flesh will reap the curse of God, Galatians 1:6-9, but those who reap to please the Spirit will reap eternal life, Galatians 5:21.
It’s very true that how we live in this life will affect where we end up for eternity, and it’s also true if we don’t know God or obey the Gospel, we will end up in hell, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9.
