Have you ever been mistreated by someone in any way before and the person managed to get off scot free, without receiving any reprimand or punishment? Psalm 94 is a corporate lament that the writer writes to plead before God about such seemingly unjust circumstances.

Verses 1-7 describe the cry to God concerning what the enemies can to do to His people. It begins with the right perspective by addressing the Lord as the God of vengeance and the judge of the earth. These enemies do not only employ verbal abusive words (verse 4), but their actions also include crushing, afflicting, killing and murdering God’s people (verses 5-6). The Psalmist cried out in desperation to God and questioned Him how long they needed to wait before He would intervene (verse 3). The situation was so dire that it even made the writer feel that God neither sees nor perceives (verse 7).

In contrast from verses 8-15, the Psalmist then reminds the people that God not only hears or sees what is happening in the world, but He will also rebuke the oppressors (verse 9-10). And then in verses 14-15, God promises that He will neither forsake His people nor abandon His heritage; and He will return justice to the righteous.

Verses 16-23 continues the tone that God will intervene for His chosen people. The difference is that in the preceding section, the writer uses third-person expressions to refer to the victims; take for example “his people,” “his heritage,” “the righteous” and “the upright in heart” (verses 14-15). But in this section, the Psalmist uses first-person pronoun instead, such as “my foot slips,” “held me up,” “cares of my heart” and “cheer my soul” (verses 18-19). Finally in verse 23, the Psalmist ends this Psalm in verse 23 with the promise that God will vindicate His people by judging the oppressors for their iniquities and wiping them away with their wickedness.

The New Testament equivalent of Psalm 94 that vengeance belongs to God is found in Rom 12:19-21, “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.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

Dear brothers and sisters, in this fallen world of sin when evil people sometimes seem to escape scot free from their wrongdoing. But we must never forget that God knows. Though the oppressors may not receive their retribution on earth, our just God will do what is right to being these evil doers to justice at the second coming of Christ.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for your words in Psalm 94 and Rom 12:19 to tell me that those who have hurt me now and in the past will one day have to appear before you as the Judge and give account of their evil deed that they have done against me. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.