Psalms 94 - Introduction

This psalm, in the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, is entitled “A Psalm of David, for the fourth day of the week.” What is the origin of this title is unknown, as there is nothing corresponding to it in the Hebrew. In the original the psalm is without a title, nor is there anything in the contents of it which will enable us to determine who was the author, or to fix the date or the occasion of its composition. There is in it nothing necessarily inconsistent with the supposition that David was the author; and there were undoubtedly occasions in his life, when it would have been appropriate. There have been many conjectures as to the author, and as to the occasion on which it was composed. Rudinger refers it to the times of David and the rebellion of Absalom; Venema supposes that it refers to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, and the persecution under him; DeWette refers it to the time of the Babylonian exile; others suppose that it was written on the eve of the Babylonian captivity. Whatever may have been the occasion, the style and form of the psalm are so general that it may be made a vehicle of pious thought, and of the feelings of the people of God, in all ages.

From the psalm itself it is plain that it was composed during some Impending or actual national calamity. This is evident from Psalms 94:3, Psalms 94:14, Psalms 94:20. It would seem, also, from Psalms 94:7, that it was probably some calamity which was brought upon the people by a foreign nation - a nation that defied Yahweh, and proclaimed that he was unable to defend his friends, or that he would not interpose in their behalf: “They say, the Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.” The object of the psalm is to show that God “is” the protector of his people; that he “does” regard them; that he “will” interpose in their behalf.

The psalm embraces the following subjects:

(1) An appeal or prayer to God as the God of vengeance, or as a just God, Psalms 94:1.

(2) a statement of the character and purposes of the wicked who were bringing these calamities upon the nation, Psalms 94:3.

(3) a direct appeal to these invaders themselves - an appeal based on the ground that God could “not” be indifferent to the conduct of people; that he must hear their words, understand their thoughts, see their acts, and know all that they did, Psalms 94:8.

(4) Consolation in the trouble derived from the fact that this was a deserved chastening of the Lord, and was not designed for their destruction, but for their good, Psalms 94:12.

(5) The fact that God is a source of confidence, comfort, and support to his people, in all Such times of trial, Psalms 94:16.