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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 94:1-11

In these verses we have, I. A solemn appeal to God against the cruel oppressors of his people, Ps. 94:1, 2. This speaks terror enough to them, that they have the prayers of God's people against them, who cry day and night to him to avenge them of their adversaries; and shall he not avenge them speedily? Luke 18:3, 7. Observe here, 1. The titles they give to God for the encouraging of their faith in this appeal: O God! to whom vengeance belongeth; and thou Judge of the earth. We may with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 94:11

The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man ,.... He not only hears their words, and sees their actions; but he knows their thoughts, the secret thoughts of their hearts, though he is afar off from them, and, they from him; he is the searcher of the hearts and trier of the reins of the children of men; see Psalm 139:2 , and so is Christ, who is the omniscient God, and is the Jehovah all along spoken to and of in this psalm; he knows the thoughts of men, and is a critical discerner of them, ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 94:11

Verse 11 11.Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of men, etc. He again insists upon the folly of men in seeking to wrap themselves up in darkness, and hide themselves from the view of God. To prevent them from flattering themselves with vain pretexts, he reminds them that the mists of delusion will be scattered at once when they come to stand in God’s presence. Nothing can avail them, so long as God from heaven stamps vanity upon their deepest counsels. The Psalmist’s design in citing them before the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 94:1-23

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 94:8-11

The appeal to Israel. The oppressors thought that their conduct would not be observed by God, or would not be taken into account. The psalmist appeals to them not to be so brutish and foolish ( Psalms 94:8 ), and argues, from the first principles of natural theology, that God must see and hear ( Psalms 94:9 ). If he chastises the heathen, why should he not also punish them ( Psalms 94:10 )? read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 94:11

The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man. Not only does the Almighty see and know all the actions of men ( Psalms 94:9 ), but he is even acquainted with their thoughts (comp. Psalms 7:9 ; Psalms 26:2 ; Psalms 139:17 ; Isaiah 66:18 ; 1 Corinthians 3:20 ). That they are vanity (comp. Ecclesiastes 2:14 , Ecclesiastes 2:15 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 94:11

The vanity of men's idea of the Divine indifference. "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." Clearly the reference is not a general one, to the common and usual thoughts of men, but a special one to the particular thoughts about the delay of God's vindication of the oppressed, which was at the time distressing the psalmist (see Psalms 94:7 ). The idea that God does not regard the suffering of his people, and will not intervene in their behalf, is characterized as... read more

Albert Barnes

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 94:11

Psalms 94:11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man This is an answer to the foregoing question, Shall not he know? Yes, he knoweth all things, yea, even the most secret things, as the thoughts of men; and in particular your thoughts, and much more your practices, which you supposed he did not see, Psalms 94:6-7. And he knows that they are generally vain and foolish; and that, while you applaud yourselves in such thoughts, you do not benefit, but only delude yourselves with them. read more

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