Psalm 94

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:11

The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man - That is, He who teaches people all that they know Psalms 94:10, must understand all that there is in the mind. See the notes at 1 Corinthians 3:20.That they are vanity - That is, that they are foolish, vain, unwise, wicked. The knowledge of the thoughts themselves carries with it also the knowledge that they are vain and foolish - for that is their character, and to know them truly is to know this of them. They do not appear to him as they do to people... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:12

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord - “Happy the man;” or “Oh the blessedness of the man.” See the notes at Psalms 1:1. The word here rendered “chastenest” does not mean to chasten in the sense of afflicting or punishing. It means here to instruct; to warn; to admonish; to exhort. So the word is employed in Proverbs 9:7; Job 4:3; Psalms 16:7. The meaning here is, that the man is blessed or happy whom God so “instructs, warns, or teaches,” that he understands the principles of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:13

That thou mayest give him rest - Mayest make his mind quiet and calm; mayest save him from murmuring, from despondency, from impatience, by just confidence in thee, and in thy government.From the days of adversity - Or, in the days of evil; the time of calamity and trouble. That his mind may then be composed and calm.Until the pit be digged for the wicked - Until the wicked be punished; that is, while the preparations are going on, or while God seems to delay punishment, and the wicked are... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:14

For the Lord will not cast off his people ... - He will interpose in their behalf though the wicked seem now to triumph. The certainty of this would give consolation; this would make the mind calm in the days of trouble. Compare 1 Samuel 12:22; 1 Kings 6:13; Deuteronomy 31:6. See the notes at Romans 11:1-2. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:15

But judgment shall return unto righteousness - That is, The exercise of judgment shall be so manifest to the world - as if it “returned” to it - as to show that there is a righteous God. The truth here taught is, that the “results” of God’s interposition in human affairs will be such as to show that he is on the side of righteousness, or such as to vindicate and maintain the cause of righteousness in the earth.And all the upright in heart shall follow it - Margin, shall be after it. The meaning... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:16

Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers?... - This is the language of the psalmist. It is what he had said in the circumstances referred to in the first part of the psalm, when the wicked seemed to triumph; when they had come in upon the land, and laid waste the heritage of God, Psalms 94:3-6. At that time, full of anxiety and trouble, and deeply impressed with a sense of danger, he had anxiously looked around for help, and had asked with deep concern who would stand up for him and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:17

Unless the Lord had been my help - At the time referred to. If I had not had a God to whom I could have gone - if my mind had not been directed to him - if I had not actually found him a refuge and strength, I should have despaired altogether. There was no other one to whom I could go; there was nothing else but the help of God on which I could rely.My soul had almost dwelt in silence - Margin, quickly. The original is, “It was as it were but little;” that is, there was little lacking to bring... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:18

When I said, My foot slippeth - I can no longer stand. My strength is gone; and I must sink into the grave. The original here is, “If I say, My foot slippeth,” etc. The statement is general; that if at any time he had been, or should be, in such circumstances, then God would interpose. The general remark, however, is founded on his interposition on this particular occasion. His aid was then so marked and timely, that he felt that he could make the declaration general in regard to his whole life... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:19

In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul - The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate render this, “In the multitude of my griefs within me,” etc. DeWette renders it, “Bei meinen vielen Sorgen,” “in my many cares.” The Hebrew word, however, properly means “thoughts;” and the idea seems to be that in the great number of thoughts which passed through his mind, so many of them perplexing, anxious, burdensome - so many of them vain and profitless - so many of them that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:20

Shall the throne of iniquity - The throne established in iniquity; or, sustaining iniquity. The allusion is probably to what was referred to in the former part of the psalm - the powers that were spreading desolation through the land - wicked princes or rulers, Psalms 94:3-7. Their thrones were established on evil; they defended wickedness and wrong by their authority; they abused their power, and employed it to overthrow the rights of others. The “phrase” would be applicable to any unjust... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:20

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