The cry of the oppressed Church and her Head for the day of vengeance

To swim against the current or the ebb of the tide is always hard. Similarly, to live and believe contrary to the popular trend, or oppose the evil and wickedness that prevails will be a constant difficulty.

The psalmist, notwithstanding the ungodly climate of his day was enabled to overcome, and calls upon the Lord in the day of trouble. As for the wicked, they give no thought to God; indeed their pride will not recognise that He beholds their evil activities. Whereas, the One who created them knows their every thought, and beholds their treatment of His inheritance.

God will arise and avenge the tyranny perpetrated against His people. Unless the Lord had held up and helped the psalmist, he would have slipped. But this national affliction was the means of sending him to God. At such times, we are to take ourselves to God, who will be our defence, our Rock and refuge.

Pastor Jeff O’ Neil

Recommended Tune: Coleshill (v1-10), Torwood (v11-23)

Psalm 94

¹O LORD God, unto whom alone
All vengeance doth belong;
O mighty God, who vengeance own’st,
Shine forth, avenging wrong.

²Lift up thyself, thou of the earth
The sov’reign Judge that art;
And unto those that are so proud
A due reward impart.

³How long, O mighty GOD, shall they
Who lewd and wicked be,
How long shall they who wicked are
Thus triumph haughtily?

⁴How long shall things most hard by them
Be uttered and told?
And all that work iniquity
To boast themselves be bold?

⁵Thy folk they break in pieces, LORD,
Thine heritage oppress:
⁶The widow they and stranger slay,
And kill the fatherless.

⁷Yet say they, GOD it shall not see,
Nor God of Jacob know.
⁸Ye brutish people! understand;
Fools! when wise will ye grow?

⁹The Lord did plant the ear of man,
And hear then shall not he?
He only form’d the eye, and then
Shall he not clearly see?

¹⁰He that the nations doth correct,
Shall he not chastise you?
He knowledge unto man doth teach,
And shall himself not know?

¹¹Man’s thoughts to be but vanity
The LORD doth well discern.
¹²Bless’d is the man thou chast’nest, LORD,
And mak’st thy law to learn:

¹³That thou may’st give him rest from days
Of sad adversity,
Until the pit be digg’d for those
That work iniquity.

¹⁴For sure the LORD will not cast off
Those that his people be,
Neither his own inheritance
Quit and forsake will he:

¹⁵But judgment unto righteousness
Shall yet return again;
And all shall follow after it
That are right–hearted men.

¹⁶Who will rise up for me against
Those that do wickedly?
Who will stand up for me ‘gainst those
That work iniquity?

¹⁷Unless the LORD had been my help
When I was sore opprest,
Almost my soul had in the house
Of silence been at rest.

¹⁸When I had uttered this word,
(My foot doth slip away,)
Thy mercy held me up, O LORD,
Thy goodness did me stay.

¹⁹Amidst the multitude of thoughts
Which in my heart do fight,
My soul, lest it be overcharg’d,
Thy comforts do delight.

²⁰Shall of iniquity the throne
Have fellowship with thee,
Which mischief, cunningly contriv’d,
Doth by a law decree?

²¹Against the righteous souls they join,
They guiltless blood condemn.
²²But of my refuge God’s the rock,
And my defence from them.

²³On them their own iniquity
The Lord shall bring and lay,
And cut them off in their own sin;
Our LORD God shall them slay.