The Book of Psalms
Psalm 94
Psalm XCIV · Vol. II, p. 1049
1 The psalmist, calling for justice, complaineth of tyranny and impiety. 8 He showeth God's providence; 12 and teacheth the blessedness of affliction. 16 God is the defender of the afflicted.
2 Lifta up thyself, bthou Judge of the earth: renderc a reward to the proud.3
a Ps.7.6; 68.1; 44.26; 74.22. Is.33.10.
c Job 40.11,12. Is.2.11,12,17; 35.4.
3 This verse is explanatory of the first. Vengeance is not to be interpreted in the ordinary sense. God is appealed to as a Judge, who could fully investigate crime, and righteously punish the criminal.—P.
4 How long shall they eutter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5 Theyg break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage:
g Ps.10.8-14; 53.4; 58.2; lxxiv. lxxix.; 80.13; 124.2,3; 129.1-3. Mi.3.2,3. Je.22.16,17. Eze.22.7.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7 Yeth they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.4
A.M. cir. 2947. B.C. cir. 1057.
h Ps.10.11,13; 59.7. Eze.8.12; 9.9. Is.29.15. Je.23.23,24.
4 Insult to the Majesty of heaven is added to oppression and cruelty. Such double wickedness could not be tolerated by a just ruler.—P.
8 Understand,i ye brutish among the 5people; and, ye fools, when will ye be wise?
i Ps.92.6; 50.22. Is.27.11. 1 Co.2.14. De.32.29. Je.6.8. Ro.3.11.
5 This appeal is to those, among God's people, who do not rightly read or interpret the providence of God in the infliction of judgments: a lesson which the Jew has not been able to learn during the continued chastisements of 1800 years.—C.
10 He that kchastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that lteacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11 Then LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
n 1 Co.3.19,20; 1.21. Ro.1.21,22.
12 Blessedo is the man6 whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
o Job 5.17,18; 33.16-24. He.12.5-11. 1 Co.11.32. Is.27.9. Pr.3.11,12. Ps.119.67,71.
6 Blessed is the man—the man Christ Jesus, to whom alone this description originally and absolutely applies. All others blessed in afflictions, are only blessed through him.—C.
13 Thatp thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
16 Whos will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
s Is.59.15,16. Je.5.1. Eze.22.30. Mi.7.2-7.
17 Unlesst the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost8 dwelt in silence.
t Ps.124.1-5; 129.4; 142.4,5. 2 Ti.4.16,17. 2 Co.1.10; 12.9.
19 Inv the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
v Ps.61.2; 63.5,6. Hab.3.16-18. 2 Co.1.3,4; 7.6.
21 Theyz gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.9
z Pr.1.11,16. Mat.27.1. Da.6.6. Ps.2.1-3; 58.2. ver.4-6.
9 This verse describes the combination of Jews and Gentiles against Christ—none else was righteous—no other was innocent.—C.
Notes
Ver. 1. The infliction of punishment is essential to the character of justice in God, both as a corrective of the wicked, and a warning to the godly. It is in vain, then, for foolish men to quarrel with this appeal to him who hath said—'Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves;' but, at the same time, has added—'Vengeance is mine,—I will repay, saith the Lord.' C.
Ver. 6. Every period of the persecutions of the Christian church has fully and literally realized this description. But such, alas! is unrenewed human nature, ever prone, in its fatal selfishness, to assail the defenceless, and, in its blinded ignorance, to conclude that God will neither see, regard, nor requite! C.
Ver. 15. Judgment shall return unto righteousness. That is, the judgment of God which the Jews imprecated, and which now has left them to harden in their sins, will return and lead them through their afflictions, to the righteousness of faith, when they shall look upon him whom they pierced, and follow on to know the Lord. C.
Reflections.—Saints must always expect manifold injuries and oppressions in this world. But never must they usurp God's prerogative in avenging themselves, but patiently endure and wait for the day when he that judges righteously shall arise to judge their adversaries. When men leaving God are left to themselves, how their heart, hands, and tongue concur in abusing him and his people! Astonishing is their atheism and stupidity! They sink even below common sense. But God makes the correction of his people to issue in their instruction, and in their spiritual or eternal rest and safety, while hardened sinners are ruined. In due time he will rectify all seeming disorders; and the righteousness of his judgments shall be made clearly manifest to the encouragement of the upright to follow him, and to praise him for his providences. And thrice happy are they who have treasured up manifold experiences of God's support, comfort, and deliverance in their times of extreme distress! It will encourage them to expect the proper, seasonable, and righteous overthrow of opposition to the church, whether wicked courts in Israel, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syro-Grecians, obstinate Jews, Romish heathens, antichristians, or others.