Psalm 94: God of Vengeance
Notes
Transcript
This past week as I was preparing for this message, I was drawn to further research on persecution of Christians worldwide. My research drew me to opendoors.org - an organization that was begun by Brother Andrew.
Some of you may have heard of Brother Andrew, I first heard of him in college when my mom gave me a copy of his biography God’s Smuggler.
Brother Andrew was a dutch missionary. He worked to smuggle Bibles into communist countries during the Cold War. During his ministry of smuggling bibles into countries were distributing bibles was illegal he was often stopped at the border. There are several instances that he speaks of where he is having his car searched by 4 or more men, they are looking everywhere they can for any thing he shouldn’t have, searching for hours - and they find nothing and send him on his way. Which for anyone who has gone through customs this is normal. But Brother Andrew kept his box of bibles on the passenger seat, in plain sight.
He did this as a sign of faith in God’s protection.
He would often pray “Lord, when you were here on earth you made the blind see, now I am asking that you make the seeing blind.”
Brother Andrew was a servant who God used to show that God’s people beyond the iron curtain were not forsaken - even though at times they may have felt that way. Though Brother Andrew died in 2022 the ministry continues on today, ministering in 60 countries. The ministry exists to inform about persecution in the church, as well as to continue on in Bible distribution.
Now from opendoors.org I found specific statistics concerning persecution around the world.
What I found from opendoors.org is that 1 in 7 Christians are persecuted worldwide. 1 in 5 Christians in Africa are persecuted. And 2 in 5 Christians in Asia face persecution.
More than 380 million Christians suffering severe persecution for their faith.
4,476 Christians were killed for their faith in Christ last year. 7679 churches and public Christian properties were attacked last year. 4744 Christians were imprisoned for their faith last year.
North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Nigeria being the top 6 most highly persecuted countries.
Though it might feel as if God has God has forsaken these nations, or even the church, the scriptures assure us of two things.
1. God has not forsaken his people.
2. God will at the right time pour our injustice on the wicked.
This Psalm picks up in an interesting place. Let’s back track for just a moment.
Psalm 92 just a few weeks ago brought forward the idea that God is just, that the righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and the wicked will be doomed to destruction forever. It’s a seeming response to Psalm 73, that at first laments that the righteous are seemingly perishing, but the wicked are prospering but it resolves with the celebration of finding satisfaction and comfort in the Lord. Last week we read Psalm 93, which reflected on the Lord eternally reigning, his majesty, his might and his trustworthy decrees.
So if you find yourself coming out of Psalm 92 and 93 wondering “If God is mighty, and his decrees are trustworthy… what happens when the wicked oppress the righteous?” That’s what this Psalm answers.
One commentary called Psalm 94 a transitionary Psalm. It echoes Psalm 92, though it maintains the thematic emphasis of God as King.
It also further answers the question: If God is a holy, righteous, just, mighty and eternal king when will he judge the wicked? When will his vengeance pour forth on those who harm those he loves?
It’s easy to ask that same question today.
Especially, when we see the persecution of Christ followers around the world.
The Psalms moves from the question of “How long until you bring justice? How long will you allow this to happen?” to the assertion that because God is my help I can endure.
This Psalm is a call for God to glorify himself in his vengeance to judge the earth.
The Psalmist is not calling for God to judge those who are in his way, or who disagree with him politically, this isn’t an emotional, personal reaction - but for God to righteously pour out judgment on the wicked - as is in accordance with his nature.
An Appeal to God
An Appeal to God
In verses 1-7 the psalmist makes an appeal to God, but he also describes the situation of wickedness at hand. This appeal leads into a rebuke of the dullest of people or the senseless - or that other word that I used possibly a lot times two weeks ago.
This is the only time in the Old Testament where God is called “God of Vengeance”. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments God is associated with vengeance. Vengeance is God’s rightful repaying someone for the wrong they have committed. God’s rightful judgment upon those who have harmed others. The Bible tells us that God has a monopoly on vengeance.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Paul there is quoting Deuteronomy 32:35 and Proverbs 20:22. Hebrews 10:30 also quotes this same passage.
The Psalmist here sees the wickedness around him and turns to God to pour out his vengeance. And though the Psalmist himself even wonders in verse 3 - how long will the wicked rejoice? How long until you pour out your vengeance - The Psalmist sees God’s people being harmed by the wicked and can only wonder - how long until you stop this? How long until you judge these wicked men?
And it’s a good question. How often have you wondered the same thing when you hear about Christian persecution world wide? More Christians are killed Nigeria than any other country. And when we hear that - if we ask “How long, O Lord?” That’s a reasonable question… but our line of questioning ought not stop there.
In this appeal he further lays the case for the wrongs that the wicked have committed. They are arrogant, boastful evildoers, who crush God’s people - they kill the widow and the sojourner, they murder orphans. These are three groups that we have seen God instruct people to take care of. The Psalmist is laying out the case for their wickedness. He has shown that they have instead of caring for the vulnerable are putting them to death.
As a note on sojourners, they would have been “foreigners” or “resident aliens”. People who had left their homeland to reside in Israel. However, they were still required to follow the laws of the land, and they were not to bring their pagan practiced with them. They were even permitted to participate in the passover if they first were circumcised. And Israel was told to care for them, as they did the widows and orphans. But these evildoers are abusing and harming those that God cares for.
But then in verse 7, he repeats how the wicked speak, they mock the people of God saying: “Where is your God? Does he even see? Are you sure he isn’t blind? The God of Jacob can’t see you.”
It’s not all that different from when you mention something about your faith - you assert something about Jesus - and someone responds with “Aren’t you a little old to believe in fairy tales?”or the favorite ridicule of many atheists in referring to God as sky daddy.
And this is what scoffers will say: Where was your God whenJim Elliot was being martyred? Or where is your God when persecution is so bad in Nigeria? Is he blind to injustice? Is he blind to wickedness?
And we can respond as the Psalmist does…
The Psalmist then proceeds to rebuke the senseless fool.
To paraphrase verse 8, the says “Listen dummy…”
The Psalmists Rebuke responds to one who thinks that he is clever - and shows him that he is in fact a fool.
A Rebuke on the Senseless
A Rebuke on the Senseless
8 Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?
The proud, and arrogant who are condemned in verses 3 and 4 are rebuked for their folly. They are so proud they think they can speak for God.
And so the response from the Psalmist matches that mocking energy. “Answer a fool according to his folly lest he become wise in his own eyes.”
So his somewhat snarky, though appropriate response is… do you really think the one who created the ear is unable to hear? Do you think the one who made the eye, is unable to see? He disciplines the nations… do you really think that he won’t rebuke the wicked? (Which that response should terrify the wicked scoffer. If the Lord will rebuke the wicked then the man scoffing God is in trouble.)
Then the Psalmist concludes this thought by asserting that though man tosses these insults toward God, he is well aware that man’s thoughts and insults are futile. They are but a breath - man speaks and not long after it fades away.
Following this rebuke on the foolish the Psalmist then shifts to provide the opposite… a blessing to the righteous.
A Blessing For the Righteous
A Blessing For the Righteous
12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law,
In verse 12, the Psalmist one against turns to speak to the Lord. He has concluded his rebuke toward the futility of the fool, and not speaks of the blessing that God gives to those he disciplines. Discipline is a guide to blessing. Other translations rightfully, render this happy…
12 Lord, how happy is anyone you discipline and teach from your law
Do you want to be happy? Do you want to be blessed?
Learn from God’s discipline.
And read God’s word.
Now you may not think that discipline is the source of happiness - but God’s discipline and God’s word together will both protect you from sin and wickedness. The word of the Lord provides relief in times of trouble. When life is hard turn to the word and find rest in God’s promises, trust in God’s character, be reminded that he does not change, and he is always faithful. And this blessing and rest from days of trouble will last until the wicked are judged. The Psalmist began in verse 3 by asking “how long?” And here is his answer - a pit will be dug for the wicked - he isn’t given a date - but he is given a promise of God’s judgment. But also a promise of God’s faithfulness.
14 For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;
The Lord will not forsake his people. God is faithful to his people.
1 Peter 2:9 refers to the church as:
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
The manner by which one becomes “God’s people” is through God’s sovereign election and effectual call, but also through faith in Christ Jesus. God calls the sinner, who deserves God’s judgment out of darkness, and into his marvelous light. God takes their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh.
And Peter’s argument steams God’s people being saved and redeemed because Jesus was rejected by men. Rejected by men but chosen and previous in the sight of God. The chief cornerstone was rejected by men that you may not be rejected by God.
God’s people will not be forsaken - and we can rest in this because Jesus was forsaken for us. Jesus on the cross, having taken our sins upon himself, cried out my God my God why have you forsaken me? He was singing Psalm 22, and though he was forsaken on the cross that we might not be, his body was not abandoned to Sheol. He was raised — a living stone - that we must also be living stones.
Then in verse 15 there is another promise that is made.
15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Because God has not forgotten his people, and he will not forsake them or abandon them - we can have faith that he will also bring justice.
20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
Promises for salvation, promises not to be forsaken, promises for judgment all find their yes and amen in Christ.
We can trust that Christ Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead, and fulfill God’s promise for justice.
This naturally leads us into the last section. The Psalm asks “Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evil doers?”
He answers that the Lord will. The Lord is his help.
And it is in this statement concerning God’s justice that he also brings a great comfort for the weary.
A Comfort for the Weary
A Comfort for the Weary
16-23
While there has already been comfort in the Psalmists statement that God will not forsake his people. Here the Psalmist leans into that even more. He acknowledges in verse 17 that the Lord is his help, and if not for that he would have met his end.
And the language used in verse 18, brings us back to the language used in Psalm 73.
18 When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
In Psalm 73:2, the Psalmist writes that his foot almost slipped. And the resolution to the Psalm is to look to the Lord for comfort. The same here. When sin is crouching at the door, when doubt overcomes you, when you begin to wonder like the Psalmist, if God is still the God of Vengeance - or if he is still just - remember the Lord’s steadfast love - and see him hold you up.
When the cares of your heart are overwhelming look to the Lord to comfort your soul.
19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
To summarize the final 4 verses - which ought to be a further comfort for our souls: Remember God’s justice, he does not partner with the wicked. Even though the wicked may band together, and though God’s judgments are not always immediate - this does not mean God has partnered with them. He has no place with the thrones of corruption. This ought to also be a reminder that we shouldn’t either. Christians should not take an interest to partner with wicked men simply because it accomplishes their goals. One place, I have seen many quick to do this is when it accomplishes their political goals. One example I saw of this is when a few year back I saw a few Christian ministries partnering with a man who is an atheist simply because they agreed on a certain political issue. The framework for why it is a problem for these two groups contradicts. But not to mention that this man would speak well when among these Christians, but then mock them and blaspheme their Lord when he left the room.
And even when the wicked rulers from these thrones of corruption band together against the church God is our stronghold. Our rock and our refuge.
There’s a famous quote that has been attributed to Charles Spurgeon, though uncertain if he said it, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the rock of ages.”
The suffering, the sorrow, the oppression, the persecution, the perceived success of the wicked - when those things lead you to the rock of ages, to find rest, comfort, shelter, joy - those are things that are working for your good. Kiss the wave that throws you against the rock of ages.
The psalmist concludes with a reminder that God will judge the wicked for their iniquity. He will wipe them out. Not on our timeline - but it in perfect righteous timing.
As I draw to my conclusion, I want to share with you something that I read this week that I think draws an appropriate connection to this Psalm.
This Summer, Jim, Dave, Dan Rifenbark and I are reading Thomas Watson’s A Body of Divinity. Watson was a puritan, though in my experience the easiest to read of the puritans. In his section on the justice of God he gives 6 answers to the question “How can God be just, when it appears that the wicked are prospering?” The same question the Psalmist has here and in Psalm 92 and 73. I wont give all of his defense for the 6 points but…
The wicked may be sometimes instruments to do God’s work.
Consider Babylon or Assyria.
Or Cyrus who was instrumental in the construction of the second temple.
God lets men go on in sin, and prosper, that he may leave them more inexcusable.
God does not always let the wicked prosper in their sin. Some he punishes openly, that his justice may be taken notice of.
And point 4 I wish to read at length: If God lets men prosper a while in their sin, his vial of wrath is all this while filling; his sword is all this time whetting: and though God may forbear men a while, yet long forbearance is no forgiveness. The longer God is in taking his blow, the heavier it will be at last. As long as there is just eternity, God has time enough to reckon with his enemies.
Justice may be a lion asleep, but at last the lion will awake, and roar upon the sinner. Do not Nero, Julian, and Cain, now meet with God’s justice?
Though I have abbreviated much of Watson’s argument there. I hope that gives light to the answer of the question. How can God be just while allow sinners to for a while reside - because his justice is perfect. He is allowing sinners time to repent, but he is also giving time to lay out the full claim of their wickedness that he might perfectly and righteously judge the wicked.
God is glorified in his salvation of sinners, and God is glorified in his judgment of sinners. What he is doing is maximizing his glory.
God is a God of Justice, and at the right time he will pour his vengeance out upon the wicked. We can take comfort in his faithfulness. He has not and will not forsake his people.
We do not have to take vengeance in to our own hands, because we have faith that God will perfectly and righteously judge the wicked.
But we can take heart in know that the wave that throws us against the rock of ages, is a wave that is producing in us an immeasurable weight of glory.
