Initial Impressions: Psalm 94:1-11

A first take on this section of the Scriptures.

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!

O Lord, how long shall the wicked,

how long shall the wicked exult?

They pour out their arrogant words;

all the evildoers boast.

They crush your people, O Lord,

and afflict your heritage.

They kill the widow and the sojourner,

and murder the fatherless;

and they say, “The Lord does not see;

the God of Jacob does not perceive.”

Understand, O dullest of the people!

Fools, when will you be wise?

He who planted the ear, does he not hear?

He who formed the eye, does he not see?

He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?

He who teaches man knowledge—

the Lord—knows the thoughts of man,

that they are but a breath.

Immediately there is an image painted of God as the repayer of evil. Mighty and able to save, God is called upon by those he has chosen. He is the "God of vengeance" and the "judge of the earth." (v. 1-2)

God hates the proud, but upholds the humble. This verse confirms this truth. Here, the poor cry out for the justice of God, asking that the all-powerful and all-holy God put a stop to the affairs he is allowing to unfold on earth. (v. 2)

To them, it feels like God isn't intervening. Daily they are bombarded by the wicked's "arrogant words"; the people hate how the wicked feel they have complete control to "afflict your heritage," "kill the widow and the sojourner," and "murder the fatherless." In the evildoers minds, it sure seems like "the LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive." This is false. (v. 3-7)

The Psalmist, wielding the power of reason, shoots back at the wicked. "Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?" Here is his argument: "He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge - the LORD - knows the thoughts of man, they are but a breath." The wicked, in doing their unlawful, gross acts, reveal their deep ignorance. They think because they cannot see God staring down at them, he must not perceive what they're doing! Surely there cannot be a God when we cannot either see him nor hear him telling us to stop?

Yet, there is. Thankfully and wonderfully, God is constantly observing his creation. When it comes to mans thoughts and deeds, therefore, no matter the extent to which we think our inner lives are unnoticed, there is One who always sees. He not only sees them, though, but judges them. We should be humbled by this small section. We learn here that God is: 1) always listening, constantly observing his image bearers lives in full, and 2) judging not only our external deeds, but our inner state as well.

I hope you are blessed by these truths.

- AJR