Psalm 94 – God of Vengeance
Psalm 94 – God of vengeance, begins with a call to God who avenges. What does God’s vengeance look like? How is it different from human vengeance?
Psalm 94
In Psalm 94 – God of vengeance, the writer calls to God to avenge him and give the proud what they deserve. He asks, how long will the wicked triumph?
“The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth.
Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.
How long, Lord, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant?” (1-3)
He goes on to note the sins of the wicked. They are arrogant, full of boastful words, they crush and break to pieces (King James version) God’s people, and they slay widows, aliens, and orphans. It doesn’t get much worse than that. And then they claim that God doesn’t see what they are doing.
“They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.
They crush your people, Lord; and oppress your inheritance.
The wicked slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
They say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.” (4-8)
In response to this, the writer attempts to use reason with the unreasonable. He proclaims, fools! Does God who made our eyes and ears not have the ability to hear or see? Will he not punish? Does he lack knowledge?
“Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? He who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.” (8-12)
The Psalmist’s Response
God does see all that they do. The writer asks who will stand with him, stating how without God’s help he would have died.
“Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (16-19)
He ends by asking them whether a corrupt throne, or a “throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with you?” (KJV) The wicked will be denied fellowship with God, the worst possible punishment anyone can receive.
“Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them.” (20-23)
God will repay them, turn back their evil upon them. As one commentator stated: “His judgment would be righteous and fitting. Their doom would be connected to their own iniquity and in their own wickedness. The punishment would fit the crime and those who had cut off others would themselves be cut off. This was his confidence and defense.” Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 94
Poetic justice prevails – the wicked brought their own iniquity upon themselves.
God’s Vengeance
The King James translation of Psalm 94 begins with the recognition that vengeance belongs to God – “O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs.” A powerful reminder.
The revenge that the writer of this psalm says will happen, does appear to be just, but is that God’s vengeance or human vengeance?
Poetic justice says that one who harms widows and stranger, will be widowed and a stranger in a foreign land. One who spews lies and hatred will receive words of hate from the world – but is that God’s justice? God will never utter words of hatred or lies. Those who utter words of hate in God’s name are liars, or at least sadly mistaken.
Instead, God calls for repentance. God pours love on sinners so that they can no longer bear it. Their choice is to receive God’s love and repent, or remain in their sins, in which case they would be removed from God’s presence by their own choice.
Psalm 94 – God of Vengeance
And so, as believers, we are called to forgive as God forgives, impossible as this may be. We are called to recognize that vengeance belongs to God
As Proverbs 25:21-22 tells us: “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” We are to act as Jesus did and return evil with good.
This is the vengeance of God and the vengeance we aspire to as Christians.
Are you able to leave vengeance in God’s hands? Are you able to return evil with good?
(For further thoughts on this psalm, see Psalm 94: What Does God’s Vengeance Look Like? – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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