Psalms 94

The Prophet prayeth, that God would take vengeance once upon the Tyrants and ungodly, whom he describeth here, shewing forth the providence of God, in creating and governing the world; and he comforteth the godly with the help and deliverances, which the LORD is wont to shew to his.

1. O God of vengeances [i.e. that executes heavy vengeance or judgements upon iniquity; and to whom all vengeance onely belongeth; Deut.32.35.] God of vengeances appear shining. [viz. To our comfort and the terror of our enemies. See Psal.80.2.]

2. Thou Judge of the earth, [i.e. of the men that dwell on earth as Gen.18.25. Ps.82.8.] lift up thy self: [viz. To righteous vengeance. See Psa.7.ver.7.] return a recompense over the haugty.

3. How long shall the Wicked O LORD, how long shall the ungodly leap for joy? [viz. By reason of their prevailing against and the oppression and miseries of the godly.]

4. Power out? Speak hard? All workers of iniquity boast themselves?

5. O LORD they bruise thy people, and they oppress thine inheritance: [i.e. Thy children which are as dear unto thee, as unto any is his inheritance:]

6. The widow ad the stranger they put to death: and they murder the fatherless.

7. And say, the LORD seeth it not: and the God of Jacob heeded it not.

8. Attend ye unreasonable [i.e. which are without understanding like brutes, See the Annot. Psalm 49. V.11. and 92.7.] among the people, and ye foolish, when will ye grow understand?

9. Should he that planted the ear, not hear? Should he that formeth the eye, not behold?

10. Should he that chastised the heathen, not punish? [i.e. Should he that visited and scourged whole Nations and Countries, not be able to punish one by one, or every one in particular, that sonnet grievously or presumptuously against him?] He that teacheth men knowledge? [as if he said, should such a one not know what men do, and what the wicked practise.]

11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are vanity.

12. Right happy is the man O LORD, whom thou chastenest: [viz. Thereby to bring him to understanding, and to the acknowledge of thee and himself] and whom thou teaches out of thy Law.

13. To give him rest from the evil days: till that the ditch be digged for the wicked. [i.e. until the wicked be brought to destruction.]

14. For the LORD shall not abandon his people; nor shall he forsake his inheritance.

15. For the judgement shall return again to righteousness: [The sence of these words is; it seemeth now in a manner, that the judgements of God run cross to his justice and righteousness, whiles the godly are afflicted, and the ungodly enjoy peace and quiet: but the judgement of God shall return at length to righteousness, when the godly shall be delivered and saved, and the ungodly the upright of heart shall follow after the same: [judgement or righteousness, spoken of just before; namely, after that they shall have seen Gods righteousness and justice manifested upon the wicked: others shall follow him, or the same, (viz. The Lord) Heb. Shall (be) after the same or him.]

16. Who shall stand up for me against the evil-doers? [viz. To help or assist me against them, as if he meant to say; No body among men, but God will do it. See Esther 8:11. The Psalmist complaineth that his friends had forsaken him in his necessity.] Who shall set himself for me against the workers of iniquity?

17. Were it not that the LORD had been mine help: my soul [i.e. my self, in as much as concerneth the body] had almost [or, soon, shortly within a little] dwelt in silence. [i.e. I had been undone and under ground ere this, where there is no speaking more, nor no praising of the LORD, as Job 3:17.18. Psal.88.13. and 105.18. and 115.17.]

18. When I said, [viz. Not knowing otherwise, but that I was quite down and under foot.] My foot wavereth thy kindness O LORD, supported me?

19. When my thoughts were multiplied within me, [Or in the multitude of my thoughts in the midst of me: See the Annot. Job 20.on v.14.] thy comfortings revived my soul.

20. Should the stool of hurtfulnesses have fellowship with thee? [i.e. the pernicious and ungodly Judges; by no means he implieth] which deviseth toil by institution? Or ordinance [i.e. by a Decree; or against the Institution, that is, against the Commandments which God ordained and instituted; Others, for a Law, i.e. in stead of good and wholesome Laws.]

21. They rut together against the soul of the righteous: [They, namely, these wicked and unrighteous Judges] and they condemn innocent blood: [See Job 10.on v.2.]

22. Yet the LORD hath been an high retreat to me: and my God a rock of my refuge: [viz. Where I might be safe and secure of all danger. See Psalms 91:14.]

23. And he shall make their unrighteousness turn again upon them, [i.e. He shall recompence them according to their deserts] and he shall destroy them in their malice: [or, because of their malice] the LORD our God shall destroy them.