Psalm 94
Shining in Justice
When we pray the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come”, what is it that we are asking of God?
The Westminster Shorter Catechism 102 answers it in this way:
“we pray, that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.”
Psalm 94 helps us to pray particularly for that first element in that God would topple the evil and rebellious kingdoms of the world as he establishes his justice. If you long for a just world, this is the Psalm to take as your own prayer and song in Christ.
1 The LORD is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long, LORD, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?4 They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5 They crush your people, LORD;
they oppress your inheritance.
6 They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, ‘The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice.’8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
11 The LORD knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.12 Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD,
the one you teach from your law;
13 you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17 Unless the LORD had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
18 When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’
your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you –
a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
21 The wicked band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
23 He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the LORD our God will destroy them.
This Psalm opens with a threefold plea and a question (1-3):
“shine forth”
“rise up”
“pay back”
“how long will the wicked be jubilant?”
This Psalm is penned in the context of great evil-doing (4-7). The wicked swagger in their sin thinking they will get away with it all. They see themselves as impervious to the consequences of their actions, thinking no one will stand up for or avenge the foreigner or fatherless.
But it is in this truth that the prayers of the Psalmist and all those who join him base their confidence: “The LORD is a God who avenges” (1). When we think of vengeance, we think of reckless and bloodthirsty conduct. Christopher Ash helpfully describes the vengeance of God in this way, “it means fair legal justice but actioned with the heat of righteous indignation.” It’s important to remember that the LORD is not just the God of a small inconsequential tribe but stands in justice over and above the whole earth.
So the opening prayer is that the God of justice would no longer be hidden but will reveal his searing glory before those who spurn his ways.
Paul tells us that the Lord Jesus is the avenger (1 Thessalonians 4.6). His radiant justice will shine forth at his return in glory to judge the living and the dead. When we pray “Come Lord Jesus”, we are partly drawing on the prayers of this Psalm, pleading that God would send his Son, who this time would purge the world of all evil.
The direction of the Psalm turns as we change from addressing God to addressing the rebels (8-14). It proceeds in asking them a series of questions, trying to draw them away from the path of destruction and back towards the place of blessing. The questions are sharp and pierce the folly of the rebels. To think that the God who formed the eye, who fashioned the ear and forged all knowledge would not then hear, see or know their rebellion is a folly of absurd proportions. As God sees all, no plans formed against him will ever stand.
But those who hear and heed the word of God receive relief and will always be remembered. “Never forsake his inheritance” (14) is an echo of the promise God made to his people in Deuteronomy 31.8, and it’s the promise Jesus reiterates to his disciples as he sends them out on mission (Matthew 28.20). The apostle Paul is then able to say that we as Christians might afflicted, struck down, perplexed and persecuted but we will never be crushed, destroyed, driven to despair or forsaken (2 Corinthians 4.8-9). For God is forever true to his character, his justice rooted in his perfect righteousness (15).
The Psalm closes with the confession of assurance the believer has in God (16-23).
First, we know that God upholds his people. The Psalmist sings of the confidence he has in the God who protects his own from slipping (18) and has shielded us from the attacks of the enemy (22).
Second, we know that God comforts his people. When we see the evil in the world, anxiety bubbles up in our hearts. God, by his Holy Spirit, ministers consolation to his people (19). He pours out a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4.7).
Third, we know that God will repay the rebels the debt they owe before him if they do not repent (23). He will not tolerate their disobedience and wickedness forever (20-21). He sees their sin and will deal with it truly and finally.
Glory be to God the Father, who stands as judge over all the earth.
Glory be to God the Son, who will shine forth in righteousness when he returns.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who ministers comfort and peace to his people.
Ever three and ever One.
Home Group: Luke 24.36-47
Why is it so important that we maintain that Jesus rose physically from the dead? Why would only a spiritual resurrection be insufficient?
Jesus says the Scriptures foretold his death and his rising from the dead. Could you highlight some passage and stories in the Old Testament that point towards his crucifixion and resurrection?
How are we meant to respond to this good news?