Psalm 94—The Lord Is the Helper of His Own Heritage

We have to be honest about something. We tend to relate to the underdog. And we tend to want the rich and powerful to pay for their overbearing ways. We want God to take revenge upon our oppressors.

“O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!” Psalm 94:1-2

The psalmist addresses the Lord and beseeches him to shine forth and repay the proud their due punishment. He’s asking God to rise up with vengeance.

“O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?” Psalm 94:3

The psalmist laments and pleads to know how long the wicked will prevail. He lays out his complaints. Evil ones pour out arrogance and boastful words. They crush God’s people, even killing the innocent and helpless. The wicked speak arrogantly claiming the Lord does not even see. The wicked exult. The wicked celebrate. The wicked rejoice.

“Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?” Psalm 94:8

The psalmist confronts us. We are obviously dull and foolish, without understanding, and he appeals for us to be wise. And walk by faith and not by sight. He explains that God created ears so surely he is able to hear. He created eyes so surely he is able to see. He is the one who disciplines all the world’s nations. He will rebuke. The day will come.

“He who teaches man knowledge—the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law…” Psalm 94:10-12

Our pains and complaints are but a breath. Knowledge and wisdom come from God alone. Regardless of what you face, receive the discipline of the Lord that your pain brings your way. Learn the deep lessons. He corrects us, and he will correct the nations. Vengeance is his alone.

“For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” Psalm 94:14-15

The Lord our God can be trusted. We call it faith for a reason. We stand on his promise that he will not forsake us. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 1:11, “…In him we have obtained an inheritance…” Justice will be done. The Lord rises up and stands for us. So, stand firm in faith.

“If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.” Psalm 94:17

The psalmist speaks of his foot slipping, but the steadfast love of the Lord helped him. If you’ve faced loss you understand. If it were not for the Lord, our souls would be exiled to the land of the silent. Instead, he cheers our souls when our heart is ready to give up.

Wicked rulers are on shaky ground when they frame injustice into the fabric of their laws. They may band together against the righteous and oppress the innocent, but they end up fighting the Lord. He is our rock. He is our refuge. Iniquity will be turned upon them and will destroy them.

Your battle belongs to the Lord. Stand in that truth by faith.

“But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out.” Psalm 94:22-23