Psalms 94
PATlime sense, it ought lo be applied to the stability of Christ’s kingdom:- which several of the Jews acknowledge is prophesied of, in this, and in all the Psalms, that • folloW unto tho hundredth. This Psalm also wants an inscription in the Hebrew, to. tell us who was the author of it, but the later Greeks entitle David to it; and call it, a Psalm of his for the fourth Day of the Week: which they had (as I shewed in the Argument of the foregoing Psalm) from the Hebrew tradition in the Talmud: and he hath little acquaintance with the history of David, who doth not see that here is an exact description of the court of Saul, who abused their authority to all manner of oppression and violence (especially against David), without any fear of God, or thought that he would call them to any account for it; as lie complains in several other Psalms; particularly Ivii. — lix. But it might as well be penned by any other holy man, who lived in times of general corruption; when (as Theo-. <loret expresses it) their kings and their princes (/. e. judges) loved not to be tied to the law: but pronounced unjust sentences, and committed murders; selling the blood of innocents for bribes: of whom the prophet Isaiah sadly complains, ver. 21. of the first chapter; where, ver. 10. he calls ihemnders of Sodom. Certain it is, tho Psalmist, whosoever he was, desires he may sec justice done upon such atheistical oppressors; and desires good men not to be discouraged under their tyranny: but patiently expect a happy issue of all the vexation w r hich they gave them.
Psalms 94:1
JL HE Lord reigneth; he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved. Let the nations boast of the power and splendour of their kings, and trust to their military preparations; this is our glory and our confidence, that the Lord reigneth over us: whose royal ornaments are not gold and precious stones, but majesty itself; and is not armed with sword and spear, but with almighty strength, which is ready to fight for us: who have this comfort also, that he who made the world will support that excellent order wherein we are settled; so that it shall not be in the power of man to disturb what he had established. \J LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.] O eternal Lord, the sovereign of the world, in whose power it is to punish the highest offenders; and to whom alone it belongs to take revenge on those who oppress thy people, when they should protect them: make thy justice conspicuous in a severe vengeance upon them.
Psalms 94:2
Tliy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting J. This we know, because thy kingdom, OLord, is fixed and immoveable: and did not begin now, when we were made thy peculiar people; but was, as thou art, from everlasting. Lift up thyself, thou Judge of the earth: render a reward to the pi’oud.] Call them to an account, O thou righteous Judge of the whole earth: and, by making them sutler according to the wrong they have done, let those proud men, who have acted as if they thought none could control them, know they have a superior.
Psalms 94:3
Thejloods have lifted up, O Lord, thejloods have lifted up their voice; thejloods lift up their waves. We will not be afraid, therefore, though multitudes of combined enemies threaten to break in upon us like a flood: though they storm and rage, and insolently vaunt, as if they were sure to overwhelm us:. Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?] We can scarce behold these wicked men without indignation; it tempts us to impatience, Lord, to see how they prosper and triumph in their injurious proceedings:
Psalms 94:4
The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, Vian the mighty waves of the sea.* Though they roar terribly, and be as numerous as the waters of the sea; swelling like its boisterous waves, in a furious tempest: the great Lord is above them all, and can instantly depress them as low as he pleases. How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?] And to hear their insolent and provoking language; for they care not what they say; but as they intolerably abuse us, so they audaciously blaspheme thee: the whole company of them priding themselves in the mischief they do; and scornfully deriding those that tell thy judgments will overtake them..
Psalms 94:5
Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. And thy fidelity, in performing the promises wherein thou hast testified thy good will to us, is as unquestionable as thy power: no age shall find it fail: for it becomes not thee to start from thy word delivered to us by thy oracle; but it is thy glory to observe i it sacredly for ever. They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and ajjlict thine heritage.] They have crushed thy people so, that they dare scarce complain of their tyranny: which cruelly afflicts those who are dear unto thee, with all manner of rapines and extortions. Ver. G. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.] They have" no compassion.upon the widow or the stranger; but rather spoil them; nay, condemn them to die upon false accusations (that they may possess themselves of their estates), because they have no patron^to defend them: and in the same manner they murder, for it is no better, the poor fatherless children, whom they ought to protect from violence.
Psalms 94:7
Yet they say, The Lord shall not see; neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. And to harden themselves in their wickedness, they say; What do you tell us of the Lord? he knows not, or minds not, what we do here. Though there are such evident demonstrations of the Divine Providence over Jacob, and his posterity; yet, for all that, they faney he doth not regard, nor will call them to any account for their doings.
Psalms 94:8
Understatid, ye brutish among tJte people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?. What stupid wretches are these! who think themselves the wisest, but are in (ruth the most brutish of all mankind:whom I would advise, if they have not perfectly lost their reason, to consider this digitized by Microsoft ® PSALM XCIV.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. (and sure they are not such fools, but they may soon understand it):
Psalms 94:9
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?. Shall not he hear your blasphemies, who gave you the faculty of hearing? and shall not he see all you do, who gave you the power of seeing? Is it possible he should give to others what he wants himself? *
Psalms 94:10
He that chastiscth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?. He that taught all nations his will, shall not he correct them when they transgress it? to what purpose did he make man to know the difference between good and evil, but that he should observe it; and expect, if he did not, to suffer for it? •, -
Psalms 94:11
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Let them devise what ways they please, and flatter themselves with hopes to escape his vengeance: the Lord knows them all; and will make them see one day, that all such counsels and contrivances are but mere folly and vanity.
Psalms 94:12
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law. And far better had it been for them to have been punished sooner: for not he that prospers in his wickedness is happy, but he whom thou chastenest, O Lord, when he doeth amiss;" and thereby teachest to study and obey thy law with greater care and diligence.’ *
Psalms 94:13
That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. Which will quiet his mind under all his troubles, and at last procure the removal of them: when absolute destruction and ruin meantime are preparing for the ungodly.
Psalms 94:14
For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake Ids inheritance. For the Lord will never abandon the care of his people; noj leave those whom he owns for his peculiar possession, to be utterly undone by the oppressions, which for a time they may endure. \
Psalms 94:15
But judgment shall return unto righteousness; and all the upright in heart shall follow it. But how much soever his judgments may seem to departfrom the rules of righteousness, while the wicked flourish, and the godly are afflicted; they shall at last return to such a perfect conformity with them, that all honest-hearted men shall be encouraged thereby still to follow the Lord; -and by no means to depart from their integrity, though all things look as if they were unequally carried. Ver. 1G. Who will rise tip for me against the evil-doers? or tvho will stand tip for me against the workers of iniquity?] Let them learn by my example not to despond; for who is it but he alone, from whom I have expected, and still do expect, to receive protection and help against these malicious men? who make no conscience of what they do, and design my utter ruin.
Psalms 94:17
Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. Whose power also is so great, that if the Lord had not seasonably interposed for my assistance and deliverance, I had not now been praying to him, but laid in a silent grave.
Psalms 94:18
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. This was my constant support, if at any time my heart even failed me, and I was ready.to conclude, I cannot subsist any longer; “then thy mercy, O Lord, sent me relief, and preserved me from the’ danger wherein I was afraid 1 should have unavoidably perished.
Psalms 94:19
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. I have had innumerable perplexed thoughts, and anxious cares, which have extremely disquieted me: but as soon as ever I reflected on thy goodness, justice, and truth, they all vanished; and I felt such consolation from thence, as revived my dejected soul.’"»
Psalms 94:20
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?. And made me say, I will never imagine it possible, that thou shouldest favour the tyrannical proceedings of these unrighteous judges: who not only oppress thy people, but do it in a form of justice; and, under the colour and pretext of law, make them miserable.
Psalms 94:21
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. They assemble themselves together, and in full council combine to destroy the righteous: upon whom they pass a solemn sentence, though he be perfectly guiltless,’ to lose hislifc. *
Psalms 94:22
But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. But this doth not discourage me (whose case this is); let them decree what they please, and be too hard for all laws, the LoTd, who hates unrighteousness, will be my defence; he, who hath been long very gracious to me, I am confident, will secure me from their violence:
Psalms 94:23
And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own xvickedness; yea; the Lord our God shall cut them off. And, mare than that> retort it upon themselves; for the mischief they intended against me, shall fall upon their own head: he shall cut” them off in their own wicked contrivances; though it be not in our power/ yet the Lord our God, who hath. under-* taken the patronage of those that confide in him, shall cut them off.