“In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” (Ps 94:19). Amazing!
When dividing a poem, we’re always in danger of dissecting the butterfly to see how it flies—and then it doesn’t fly anymore. Still, I think it’s helpful to see the various movements directing us through the psalm. Psalm 94 appears to have four of these movements. Movement 1 (vv 1-7) is a prayer, in which the author expresses his perplexity. He knows it is God “to whom vengeance belongs” (v 1), but he wonders, “Lord, how long…will the wicked triumph?” (v 3). What are the charges against these people? The list is long and grisly, with sins of every kind. “They…speak insolent things…boast in themselves…break in pieces Your people…slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless” (vv 4-6). On top of that, they treat God as if He doesn’t see or understand (v 7). At this point, the psalmist can’t hold it in anymore, so he turns from praying to directly addressing the wicked in Movement 2 (vv 8-11). He doesn’t hold back—“you senseless…you fools” (v 8)! Their fatal mistake is assuming either that God isn’t there or doesn’t care. But “He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?” (v 9). Thankfully, it’s God “who instructs the nations,…who teaches man knowledge” (v 10). If you’re a fool, you don’t have to stay one. In Movement 3 (vv 12-15), we see the results of paying attention to God. “Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord” (v 12). The psalmist has no doubt that eventually God will judge the wicked (vv 13-15). In Movement 4 (vv 16-23), the question remains: “Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” (v 16). In His good time, “the Lord our God shall cut them off” (v 23). But what if I start slipping? “Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up” (v 18).