Message Notes

SSS 4 12 November 2023
Book 4
Psalms 90-106

Text: Psalm 94

1O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs—
O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
Render punishment to the proud.

3 LORD, how long will the wicked,
How long will the wicked triumph?

4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.

5 They break in pieces Your people, O LORD,
And afflict Your heritage.

6 They slay the widow and the stranger,
And murder the fatherless.

7 Yet they say, “The LORD does not see,
Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”

8 Understand, you senseless among the people;
And you fools, when will you be wise?

9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
He who formed the eye, shall He not see?

10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
He who teaches man knowledge?

11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
That they are futile.

12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD,
And teach out of Your law,

13 That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
Until the pit is dug for the wicked.

14 For the LORD will not cast off His people,
Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

15 But judgment will return to righteousness,
And all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

17 Unless the LORD had been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence.

18 If I say, “My foot slips,”
Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.

19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.

20 Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
Have fellowship with You?

21 They gather together against the life of the righteous,
And condemn innocent blood.

22 But the LORD has been my defense,
And my God the rock of my refuge.

23 He has brought on them their own iniquity,
And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;
The LORD our God shall cut them off.

Psalm 94:1-23

PRAYING TO GOD AS THE DIVINE JUDGE

1O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs—
O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
Render punishment to the proud.

3 LORD, how long will the wicked,
How long will the wicked triumph?

Psalm 94:1-3

1. Vengeance belongs to God

2. He is the Judge of the earth

3. Prayer to render punishment

a) To the proud

b) To the wicked

c) To those who seem to be triumphant

PRESENTING THE DEEDS OF THE WICKED

4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.

5 They break in pieces Your people, O LORD,
And afflict Your heritage.

6 They slay the widow and the stranger,
And murder the fatherless.

7 Yet they say, “The LORD does not see,
Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”

Psalm 94:4-7

1. They speak insolent things

2. They are workers of iniquity

3. They are boastful

4. They break in pieces God’s people

5. They afflict God’s heritage

6. They slay the widow and the stranger

7. They murder the fatherless

8. They declare that God does not see nor understands

RESPONSE TO THE WICKED

8 Understand, you senseless among the people;
And you fools, when will you be wise?

9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
He who formed the eye, shall He not see?

10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
He who teaches man knowledge?

11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
That they are futile.

Psalm 94:8-11

1. They are senseless

2. They are fools

3. The LORD is the Creator

4. Of course, He hears and sees

5. He will also correct

6. The thoughts of man are known to God

7. They are futile

BLESSING OF GOD’S PEOPLE

12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD,
And teach out of Your law,

13 That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
Until the pit is dug for the wicked.

14 For the LORD will not cast off His people,
Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

15 But judgment will return to righteousness,
And all the upright in heart will follow it.

Psalm 94:12-15

1. God will instruct and teach

2. He will give rest amidst adversity

3. He will not cast off His people

4. He will not forsake His inheritance

5. Judgment will take place

6. Righteousness will be restored

7. The upright will follow it

PERSONAL ASSURANCE

16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

17 Unless the LORD had been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence.

18 If I say, “My foot slips,”
Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.

19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.

Psalm 94:16-19

1. Who will stand with the upright?

a) Anxiety expressed

b) Challenging thoughts to overcome

2. Assurance to the soul

a) In the LORD’s help

b) In His mercy

c) In His comfort

THE THRONE OF INIQUITY

20 Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
Have fellowship with You?

21 They gather together against the life of the righteous,
And condemn innocent blood.

Psalm 94:20-21

1. The throne of iniquity
It devises evil by law

2. The wicked gather against the life of the righteous

3. They condemn innocent blood

GOD’S PROTECTION

22 But the LORD has been my defense,
And my God the rock of my refuge.

23 He has brought on them their own iniquity,
And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;
The LORD our God shall cut them off.

Psalm 94:22-23

1. God is our Defense

2. He is the rock of our refuge

3. He will cut off the wicked in their own wickedness