Divine retribution certain. The psalm may be distributed under the following heads. I. A PRAYER FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF WICKED OPPRESSORS . ( Psalms 94:1 , Psalms 94:2 .) Probably in anticipation of the Assyrian invasion. II. THE GROUND OF THE PRAYER — THE INSOLENT AND ATHEISTIC SPIRIT OF THEIR CRUEL WORK . ( Psalms 94:3-7 .) They murder the fatherless, and say, "Jehovah seeth not?" III. THE BLINDNESS AND CONTEMPT OF GOD ... read more
Lift up thyself (comp. Psalms 7:6 ; Isaiah 33:10 ). "Rouse thyself," that is, "from thy state of inaction"—come and visit the earth as Judge. Thou Judge of the earth (comp. Genesis 18:25 ; Psalms 58:11 ). Render a reward to the proud; rather, render a recompense— as the same phrase is translated in Lamentations 3:64 . read more
The Judge of all the earth. The older Scriptures constantly set God forth as the actual, living Judge, concerned now in his Divine magistracy, deciding causes, vindicating the oppressed, punishing the wrong doer. The idea of some one single judgment day, in the far future, when all earth complications are to be put straight, and all earth evils are to be rectified, does not appear to have been in the minds of Old Testament saints. It may be that the New Testament figure of the "judgment... read more
Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? "How long?" is the continual cry of the psalmists to God, as it is of the souls under the altar ( Revelation 6:10 ; comp. above, Psalms 6:3 ; Psalms 13:1 , Psalms 13:2 ; Psalms 35:7 ; Psalms 74:10 ; Psalms 79:5 ; Psalms 89:46 ; Psalms 90:13 ). It is a cry of weakness and impatience, but has an element of faith in it, on which God looks with favour. read more
The saint's perplexity at the triumph of sin. "Lord, how long?" etc. This question, which the inspired psalmist, in the anguish of his spirit, could not help putting, is not one of those which are solved by the lapse of time. Rather it grows more urgent. Thousands of years have rolled by since these words were written, and still the awful mystery confronts us which St. Paul so forcibly describes— sin reigning unto death . It is true that in each particular case "the triumphing of the... read more
How long shall the wicked triumph? I. SUPPOSE THEY NEVER DID . 1 . Then the devil would be right when he asked, "Doth Job serve God for nought?" He meant to say that men serve God only from selfish, interested motives. 2 . Men would want to sin, though from fear they held back . The heart would remain unchanged, character would be the same. 3 . The essential discipline and test of the righteous would be destroyed . We are tested when, though we see the... read more
The tether of the ungodly. "How long shall the wicked triumph?" Men ask this question only when they cannot see the rope, or the chain, which keeps the movements of the ungodly within strict limitations. In Jersey and Guernsey the cattle are not left free in the fields, but are tethered so that they can only feed within a defined circle; and the visitor is interested in the different lengths of tether allowed to each animal. Bunyan represents his pilgrim as alarmed at the lions at the... read more
How long shall they utter and speak hard things? rather, they pour forth, they utter arrogant things; literally, arrogance. And all the workers of iniquity boast themselves; or, "carry themselves proudly" (Cheyne). read more
They break in pieces thy people, O Lord; or, "crush," "oppress" (comp. Isaiah 3:15 ; Proverbs 22:22 , where the verb is evidently used, not of foreign foes, but of domestic oppressors). And afflict thine heritage; or, "thine inheritance"—those whom thou hast taken to be thy "peculiar people" ( Deuteronomy 14:2 ), thine own exclusive possession. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 94:1-23
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