THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

XCIV: Waiting On God To Exact His Vengeance

(Psalm 94:1-23)

I. Introduction

A. Romans 12:19 tells us, "(A)venge not yourselves . . . for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord" in referring to Deuteronomy 32:35. (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Romans 12:19)

B. That command is hard to obey if one has been wronged, but Psalm 94:1-23 calls us to wait for God to avenge:

II. Waiting On God To Exact His Vengeance, Psalm 94:1-23.

A. There are no introductory remarks in this psalm (Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 1057), so the verse numbering format of the English Bible fits that of the Hebrew text, and we stay with the numbering format of the English Bible.

B. We thus translate Psalm 94:1-23 as follows:

1. "O Elohim Who takes vengeance, O Jahweh, the Elohim Who takes vengeance -- shine forth!" (v. 1)

2. "Rise up, O Judge of the earth; return in payment to the proud their (just) recompense," Psalm 94:2.

3. "How long will the wicked, O Jahweh, how long will the wicked exult (in triumph)?" (Psalm 94:3)

4. "They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting," Psalm 94:4.

5. "Your people, O Jahweh, they crush, and Your inheritance they oppress," Psalm 94:5.

6. "They slay the widow and the foreigner and they murder the fatherless," Psalm 94:6.

7. "They say, 'Jahweh does not see; the Elohim of Jacob does not discern!'" (Psalm 94:7)

8. "Discern, you dull-hearted ones among the people; you fools, when will you (prudently) consider?" (v. 8)

9. "Does He Who implanted the ear not hear? Does He who formed the eye have no regard (to this)?" (v. 9)

10. "Does He who disciplines nations not punish? Does He who teaches man lack knowledge?" (Psalm 94:10)

11. "Jahweh knows the thoughts of man that they are futile," Psalm 94:11.

12. "How blessed is the male head of household (geber, Ibid.; Robert B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 52-54) whom You discipline, O Jah(weh), and whom from Your law You teach," Psalm 94:12.

13. "You pacify (shaqat, Hiphil stem = "cause quietness; pacify," B. D. B., A Heb. and Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 1052-1053) him from (his) days of calamity until a pit (grave) is dug for the wicked," Psalm 94:13.

14. "For Jahweh will not reject His people, and He will not forsake His inheritance," Psalm 94:14.

15. "For (His) verdict will be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow after it," v. 15.

16. "Who will arise for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?" v. 16.

17. "Unless Jahweh had given help to me, my life principle would almost have settled down in death," v. 17.

18. "When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' Your loyal love, O Jahweh, sustained me," Psalm 94:18.

19. "When greatly disquieting thoughts were within me, Your consolation delighted my life principle," v. 19.

20. "Can a corrupt throne be allied with You -- one that brings on misery by its decrees?" (Psalm 94:20)

21. "They band together against the life principle of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death," v. 21.

22. "But Jahweh has become my Secure Height of a Stronghold, My Elohim in Whom I take refuge," v. 22.

23. "He will recompense them for their sins and exterminate them for their wickedness; Jahweh Elohim will exterminate them," Psalm 94:23.

C. We note significant observations and applications regarding this psalm (as follows):

1. In verses 1-7, the psalmist addressed God, petitioning Him to take vengeance on wicked men who wrong the vulnerable (widow, foreigner, fatherless) whom God promised in the Law personally to defend, cf. Ex. 22:21-23; in verses 8-11, the psalmist warned the wicked of God's coming judgment and in verses 12-19, he expressed confidence in God's discipling and blessing of the upright and future judgment of the wicked.

2. Verses 20-23 offer a key lesson: (a) the question of why God lets evil rulers use laws to make the wrong seem right (v. 20) is answered by acknowledging the existence of such evil (v. 21), God's care for His own (v. 22) and His final vengeance on the wicked (v. 23), Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn to Psa. 94:20-23.

Lesson: Though the wicked proudly, greatly wrong His people, God knows it, He disciples His people to heed Him and helps them while in time fully punishing the wicked. Even if rulers use laws to make wrong appear to be right in order to afflict, the upright must acknowledge that evil exists, and that God cares and will exact full vengeance.

Application: If tempted to get upset at great wrongs done to others by the wicked, God wants us to know He is fully aware of it all, that we should heed His discipline for personal blessing and He will in time fully punish the wicked.