The New International
Version starts chapter 94 talking about the God who avenges. God isn't a God of
revenge, but he is one who practices justice. Justice, at times, requires
people to be avenged. The victim isn't protected if the perpetrator gets away
with the crime. God wants the wrongdoer to repent and do right, but they will
not always do this, leaving God with only one other choice.
When we are wronged we
often wonder like the Psalmist how long it will be till God puts things right.
The other side of this is we need to be careful with this prayer because we
might want God to be gracious and longsuffering with our shortcomings. The
danger is we tend to think others' actions are worse than ours not realizing
that we might be just as guilty as other people just in different areas. This
isn't always true, the innocent are often treated wrong, but let's not be too
hasty to call for judgment.
The good news we see here
in this psalm is if we are trusting God, He will be our defense and our refuge.
Psa 94:1-23
(1) O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
(2) Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
(3) LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
(4) How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
(5) They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
(6) They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
(7) Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
(8) Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
(9) He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
(10) He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
(11) The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
(12) Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
(13) That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
(14) For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
(15) But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
(16) Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
(17) Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
(18) When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
(19) In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
(20) Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
(21) They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
(22) But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
(23) And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.
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