Do you ever struggle with the fact that evil people seem to get away with oppressing the weak? In Psalm 94, the psalmist calls on God's vengeance to rescue the weak and punish the wicked.
Overall Structure
Psalm 94 divides into 3 parts. The first section calls out for God's vengeance and lists the acts of the wicked. The second section responds to this by listing the acts of God. The final section reminds us that God is with the righteous.
The Meaningful Center can be found in Psalm 94:12.
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord,
and whom you teach out of your law
The psalm fluxuates back and forth between prayers to God and sections talking about God.
The Acts of the Wicked
Psalm 94:1-7
This first section is a prayer to God describing the acts of the wicked and calling for God's vengeance. Verse 3 asks a common question, repeated throughout the psalms, "How long?" How long will God allow the wicked to get away with their evil acts?
It then lists 7 evil acts of the wicked. They
- Pour out arrogant words,
- Boast,
- Crush God's people,
- Afflict God's heritage,
- Kill the widow,
- Murder the fatherless, and
- Say "God does not see".
If you are feeling depressed by all the evil you see and read about, remember, it is OK to ask God, "How long?"
The Acts of God
Psalm 94:8-15
But the wicked are wrong to think that God does not see their actions. God does see! Only the foolish think that the Creator is ignorant of the ways of the created.
The second section outlines the many acts of God. God hears, sees, rebukes, teaches, knows, disciplines, gives rest, and does not forsake or abandon.
God sees all of the acts of the wicked, and He will judge them!
The meaningful center is found in verse 12.
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord,
and whom you teach out of your law Psalm 94:12
In the center of this psalm, we are reminded that there is a blessing for those who accept God's teaching and discipline. The wicked may seem to get away with evil, but in the end, the blessing will come to those who obey God's Word.
The Lord Is My Help
Psalm 95:16-23
The final section reaffirms God's protection and the judgment of the wicked. In verse 16, the psalmist cries out, "Who rises up for me against the wicked?" He immediately answers his own question in verse 17: "The Lord".
God will hold us up with His love and comfort. We are not alone in our struggles!
The wicked may band together to commit evil, but they make a fatal mistake. They are not on God's side.
God is with the righteous! He will destroy the wicked for their evil ways.
Application
The wicked may oppress the righteous for a time, but their end is near. We should never give in to the thought that God is ignorant of the actions of evil people.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the evil you read about in the news? Or maybe you have experienced it personally. Place your hope and trust in God. God sees and hears, and He will judge them!
This post is part of a series on the Psalms.
by Jerry Wyrick, President of Worship Arts Conservatory