Read Psalm 94
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.
Go Deeper
Does it ever seem as though the evil around you is winning? Do you ever think, even for a second, that God must not be seeing the things you’re seeing? Do you ever wonder how much more He can care for a world that so obviously doesn’t care for Him? If so, you’re not alone. The psalmist in today’s reading seems to have had similar questions and confusion. When all we see is such wickedness, where is God in the world around us?
The psalmist cries out in verse 3, “How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant?” He sees the wicked running around acting as though there is no God; they are crushing God’s people and hurting the helpless, the foreigner, and the fatherless. Worst of all, they brag that they’re getting away with it. They claim that God doesn’t see their actions. Or does He? Almost as soon as the psalmist wonders where God is, he reminds himself that, of course, God sees it all. More than that, He knows it all and is at work in it, too.
When it seems like God is silent, listen harder. When it looks as though God is not moving, look closer. The psalmist stops his spiral of dejection and disbelief by doing two things. First, he reminds himself of God’s never-changing truth (v. 8-16). Then, he reminds himself of God’s track record of faithfulness in his life (v. 17-19, 22). With a renewed perspective, he waits patiently for God to work.
When our thoughts run away with us, our fears overtake us and our doubts creep in, we need to follow this psalmist’s example. By reminding ourselves of God’s eternal truth and how He has proven Himself faithful to us before, we will have eyes to see Him at work in our lives once more.
Questions
- Is there a situation in your life where you are asking God the question, “How long?” What are you waiting on Him for?
- What are some eternal truths and promises of God that you can cling to today?
- How has God revealed Himself to you personally before? Praise God for His track record of faithfulness in your life.
Keep Digging
Verse 19 says, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” To learn more about how to seek God in the midst of anxiety, listen to this episode of the Becoming Something podcast.
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email hello@biblereadingplan.org.
1 thought on “Psalm 94”
No amount of self-help can compare to the consolation trusting in Christ can bring to my anxious heart. I don’t have to understand my situation to choose HIM over fear. Living in our current day will give plenty of opportunity to exercise our faith over fear. Let it become a habit to know Him and his Word so well that it informs our hearts.