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PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Ninety-Four - Facing UNBRIDLED Abusive Oppression As An Adult Male Head Of Household
(Psalm 94:1-23)
  1. Introduction
    1. A particularly difficult challenge for a head-of-household is his facing relentless, unbridled oppressors without a conscience who can afflict even his family's welfare in their actions against his welfare!
    2. Psalm 94:1-23 addresses the problem of facing unbridled abusive oppression in the adult male role:
  2. Facing UNBRIDLED Abusive Oppression As An Adult Male Head Of Household, Psalm 94:1-23.
    1. This psalm signals that it was written for adult male heads of households by its use of the Hebrew word, geber meaning such a person, Ps. 94:12, cf. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, vol. I, p. 148-149 (s. v. "geber. Man," by John N. Oswalt.)
    2. The challenge such a head of household faces in the psalm is oppression by opponents who are unbridled in their wickedness as they sense no need of accountability, Ps. 94:5-7.
    3. As such, the problem of needing revenge taken in behalf of the psalmist (v. 1-2, 23) involves a severe crisis to the livelihood not only of the psalmist, but of his helpless, beloved dependents, cf. v. 6!
    4. The stress this threat takes on the household's responsible overseer is implied in verse 17: the author admits that unless the Lord supplies him help , he would become so distraught that he would die!
    5. Just how to face and handle this challenge is supplied in the psalm as follows:
      1. The psalmist calls unto God for His intervention of righteous vengeance against the oppressors, v. 1-3.
      2. In this call for help, the psalmist itemizes his concern over their unbridled abuse toward the innocent:
        1. He states to God how these unbridled, fearless oppressors pour out arrogant, boasting words, 94:4.
        2. He details how they apply this haughtiness to actions, crushing and slaying widows, foreigners and the fatherless in opposition to clear statements to the co ntrary in God's Law, 94:6 with Dt. 24:17-22.
        3. He notes that their arrogance is great due to an absence of a sense no accountability to God, Ps. 94:7. Accordingly, the damage they do seems to be unstoppable in their unbridled mindset.
      3. Upon detailing their wicked mindset in his prayer, the psalmist feels repelled by the mindset, and charges his thus-minded oppressors to fear God as they will give an account to Him after all, 94:8-11:
        1. In an emphatic expression, an apparent reaction to the disrespect for God he notes in his oppressors, the psalmist charges the oppressors that they must discern and prudently consider their ways, 94:8.
        2. He tells them that God who implanted the ear hears the oppressed one's cry, that God who formed the eye sees it, that God who disciplines whole nations will punish individual evildoers and that God who teaches man certainly knows what is going on and will stop it, Ps. 94:9-10. Thus, these oppressors are completely vulnerable to their Sovereign Creator, the hope for the oppressed, v. 11.
      4. However, in blessed contrast to the fate of the unbridled oppressors, the godly head of household, sensing his own accountability to God, thus responding to God's disciplines and teachings will be granted quiet days from the judgment calamity to be leveled at the unbridled oppressors, Ps. 94:12-13.
      5. The reasons why this blessing will belong to the godly heads of households are itemized as follows:
        1. God, who is just and loyal will not abandon His godly people, Ps. 94:14.
        2. God's judgment is founded upon righteous standards, and the upright heed them to their blessing, 15.
      6. In confidence that God is thus his sure, sovereign Hope against the unbridled, wicked oppressors, the afflicted head of household testifies of God's deliverance and its comfort, Ps. 94:16-23.
Lesson: In facing unbridled oppressors who lack a conscience, and whose efforts threaten the welfare of one's innocent DEPENDENTS, the overseer has a Sovererign Creator as his sure Hope of rescue PROVIDING he himself senses his own accountability to God unlike his oppressors!

Application: A head of household who faces oppressors who lack a conscience to the threat of his dependents best responds by watching that he himself respects God and obeys Him. This is because (a) the intolerance of wrong needed to react in pr ayer for God's help and (b) the impetus for a man to obey God for GOD to WANT to aid him BOTH arise FROM a sense of accountability to the Lord! Only as a head of household thus senses accountability to God is he equipped to protect his family!