Psalm 94:16-19 - 9-1-1

Introduction

On my way to work-one dark morning on the westbound side, I noticed two ladies and a small child in distress on the eastbound side. One of the ladies had driven into the concrete wall. One of the ladies was an older lady. They were both sitting on side on the curb with the small child nestled between them.

I instantly and instinctively turned into the parking lot of the closest gas station. I jumped out of the car and bolted across the road and dialed 9-1-1!

“When [I] call[ed] 9 1 1, a call-taker...answered the phone and [said], “911, what’s your emergency?” [Of course], [I told] the call-taker what the emergency [was]...”

“Psalm 94. An urgent call is here addressed to God to avenge his crushed people, the oppressed, the widow, the alien, and the fatherless, who suffer at the hands of proud, jubilant, arrogant evildoers. The situation resembles that faced by Amos and Micah, in which an unscrupulous ruling class oppressed the defenseless in society, those whom the prophets insisted were God’s special care.”

White, R. E. O. “Psalms.” Evangelical Commentary on the Bible. Vol. 3. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995. 390. Print. Baker Reference Library.

#1 (vv. 16-17) God is my Help (Defense)

This is personal, had I not gone through it, I would speaking from hearsay!

v. 16 - to rise up v. — to rise up for the purpose of taking action.

v. 16 - wicked - evildoer n. — someone who does evil deliberately; especially someone who deserves to be punished for their acts.

v. 16 - stand up - to take a stand v. — to take a defensive fighting position.

v. 16 - evildoers - evil (behavior) n. — morally objectionable behavior

Vengeance is the rendering of a just punishment upon a wrongdoer, or the recompense given to the victim of the wrongdoing

Pitard, Wayne T. “Vengeance.” Ed. David Noel Freedman. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary 1992 : 786. Print.

Isaiah 59:19b, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

The Holy Bible: King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995. Print.

#2 (v. 18) God is my Sustainer

SLIP (SLIP UP)

lose one’s balance or footing and slide unintentionally for a short distance.

accidentally slide or move out of position or from someone’s grasp.

fail to grip or make proper contact with a surface.

pass gradually to a worse condition; make a careless error.

Soanes, Catherine, and Angus Stevenson, eds. Concise Oxford English dictionary 2004 : n. pag. Print.

SUSTAINER - bear all or part of the weight of; give assistance, encouragement, or approval to

Soanes, Catherine, and Angus Stevenson, eds. Concise Oxford English dictionary 2004 : n. pag. Print.

#3 (v. 19) God is my Mind Regulator

ANXIETY - troubled thought n. — thoughts that cause a person to be troubled or disquieted.

While loving concern may be constructive, Jesus cautions that unnecessary attention to physical needs or the “cares of the world” may hinder the life of faith and the Christian’s participation in the kingdom of God ( Luke 12:22–31). Rather, one should place his burdens on God, who protects and cares for his people (Phil. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:7).

Myers, Allen C. The Eerdmans Bible dictionary 1987 : 63. Print.

Isaiah 26:3, “3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

The Holy Bible: King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995. Print.