Psalms 94:12

PRAISE OF THE PIOUS SUFFERER

"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Jehovah,

And teachest out of thy law;

That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity,

Until the pit be digged for the wicked.

For Jehovah will not cast off his people,

Neither will he forsake his inheritance.

For judgment shall return unto righteousness;

And all the upright in heart shall follow it."

"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest" (Psalms 94:12). Some of the sufferers mentioned earlier, no doubt, were allowed to pass through such difficult experiences by the Lord. "The affliction was for their betterment. This is one of the most beneficial forms of experience that the Lord lets men live through."[8] In the New Testament, Hebrews 12 stresses the benefit and the necessity of such chastening. (For a fuller discussion of this see Vol. 10 of our New Testament Series of Commentaries (Hebrews), pp. 293-296.)

"Rest from adversity ... until the pit be digged for the wicked" (Psalms 94:13). Two great blessings are mentioned here for the sufferers: (1) God will give them "peace" and "rest" spiritually, even during their afflictions; and (2) meanwhile, the pit is being digged for the wicked into which they shall surely fall. It is evident that God's punishment of evil-doers, while inevitable and certain, in many instances must wait (a) until their wickedness has run its course, or (b) until God's preparation for their punishment is complete.

"For Jehovah will not cast off his people ... nor forsake his inheritance" (Psalms 94:14). This was not an "unconditional promise," despite the fact of Racial Israel's treating it exactly that way. What is meant here is that "God will never cast off his faithful people." Romans 11:15 speaks of the "casting away" of many in Israel; yet Paul declares God has not "cast off his people," because he himself and others in the service of Jesus Christ are indeed the "True Israel" which was not cast off.

"Judgment shall return unto righteousness" (Psalms 94:15). The RSV seems to be clearer. "Justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it." Martin Luther translated it, "For right must remain right, and the upright in heart shall walk in it."[9]

In addition to these options, we like the proposal of Addis, who rendered this difficult verse, "Authority shall return to the righteous man, and all the upright in heart shall follow him."[10] The practical meaning was that whoever the wicked king on the throne of Israel might have been, he would be succeeded by one who would honor God's law.