Psalm 94

Psalm 94 belongs to Book IV of the Psalms (Psalms 90–106). The preceding Psalm 93 celebrates the LORD's reign as King, and Psalm 94 calls on that reigning God to judge the wicked. The Hebrew text has no superscription identifying an author.

Structure

• Verses 1–7: The psalmist calls on the "God, to whom vengeance belongeth" (the God who avenges wrongs and establishes justice) to rise up and punish the proud. The wicked crush the LORD's people and slay the widow, the stranger, and the fatherless, yet they claim that the LORD does not see.
• Verses 8–11: The psalmist rebukes the foolish, asking whether the One who planted the ear will not hear and whether the One who formed the eye will not see. The LORD knows that human thoughts are vanity.
• Verses 12–15: The psalmist pronounces blessed the one whom the LORD chastens and teaches out of His law. The LORD will not cast off His people or forsake His inheritance (the people God has claimed as His own portion).
• Verses 16–19: The psalmist asks who will rise up for him against the wicked. He confesses that the LORD's help and mercy held him up when his foot was slipping, and that in the multitude of his anxious thoughts, the LORD's comforts delighted his soul.
• Verses 20–23: The psalmist denounces corrupt judges who frame mischief by means of law. He confesses the LORD as his defense (a fortress on a height) and the rock of his refuge, and he is confident that God will cut off the wicked.

Key Verses

• Psalm 94:9: "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?" This expresses the central argument of the psalm: the Creator sees and knows all human affairs.
• Psalm 94:14: "For the LORD will not cast off his people." In Romans 11:2, Paul uses the language of this verse when speaking about Israel.
• Psalm 94:19: "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul." Here the lament turns into a personal confession of comfort.

People and Places

• The LORD: Addressed as the Judge of the earth and as a refuge.
• Jacob: Appears in the phrase "the God of Jacob," which here refers to the people of Israel as a whole.
• The widow, the stranger, and the fatherless: The vulnerable whom the Law specifically commanded Israel to protect. Their mention underscores the severity of the wicked's violence.

Points for Reflection

• The Hebrew text has no superscription. The Greek translation known as the Septuagint attributes the psalm to David and designates it a psalm for "the fourth day of the week." Jewish tradition likewise holds that it was sung in the Temple on Wednesdays. The author and date of composition cannot be determined from the text alone.
• The psalm's plea for God to take vengeance has been interpreted in various ways. Christians commonly read it not as a prayer for personal revenge but as a prayer that entrusts judgment to God. In this connection it is often read alongside Romans 12:17–21, which instructs believers to leave vengeance to God.
• Verse 11 is quoted in 1 Corinthians 3:20, where Paul changes "the thoughts of man" to "the thoughts of the wise" to speak of the futility of worldly wisdom.
• The idea in verse 12 that chastening is a blessing also corresponds to the theme of Hebrews 12:6–11.