Psalm 94

From: Short Meditations on the Psalms: Chiefly in Their Prophectic Character By: John Gifford Bellett

Psalm 94 • 1 min. read • grade level: 11

This Psalm, accordingly, resumes the first of those subjects more largely. The people, waiting for their Messiah or King, call on Him to judge the enemy, to still the floods (Psa. 92:3³Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. (Psalm 92:3)) that are lifting up their voice. And all Scripture joins to tell, that the millennial kingdom of Christ will not be brought in, till this judgment is executed on the enemies of Israel.

But in the course of this Psalm, the afflicted Remnant greatly comfort themselves in God, assured that He will work for them. They know that in the midst of these floods and waves, the Lord is their Rock which nothing can move.

The judgment here described is the day of the Lord’s vengeance—the year of recompence for the controversy of Zion—the day of breaking up confederacies—the day of the Lord that is to be upon everything lifted up—the day of “revenges upon the enemy” (Deut. 32:41-42⁴¹If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. ⁴²I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. (Deuteronomy 32:41‑42)). The floods that lift up their waves will then be rebuked by the Lord (Isa. 17:12-13¹²Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! ¹³The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. (Isaiah 17:12‑13)).

But judgment is to “return unto righteousness” (Psa. 94:15¹⁵But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. (Psalm 94:15)). The judgment is to lead to the exaltation of righteousness in the earth, when power will be on the side of righteousness, as in the kingdom.

The infidel character of the faction is strikingly challenged and rebuked by the righteous Israel (Psa. 94:7-10⁷Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. ⁸Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? ⁹He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? ¹⁰He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? (Psalm 94:7‑10)). The Apostle Peter addresses the same unbelief, but more in the way of a teacher of God’s truth (2 Peter 3).

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.