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Illustration for Psalm 94: God Is the Judge

Psalm 94

God Is the Judge

ComfortWhen AfraidCourage

The people cry out asking God to punish those who do wrong and hurt innocent people. God sees and knows everything — He who planted the ear can surely hear! When people feel lonely and troubled, God is their comfort and strength.

  1. 1O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth.
  2. 2Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.
  3. 3How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant?
  4. 4They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.
  5. 5They crush Your people, LORD; they oppress Your inheritance.
  6. 6They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
  7. 7They say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice."
  8. 8Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?
  9. 9Does He who fashioned the ear not hear? Does He who formed the eye not see?
  10. 10Does He who disciplines nations not punish? Does He who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
  11. 11The LORD knows all human plans; He knows that they are futile.
  12. 12Blessed is the one You discipline, LORD, the one You teach from Your law;
  13. 13You grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.
  14. 14For the LORD will not reject His people; He will never forsake His inheritance.
  15. 15Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
  16. 16Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
  17. 17Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
  18. 18When I said, "My foot is slipping," Your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
  19. 19When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.
  20. 20Can a corrupt throne be allied with You— a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
  21. 21The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
  22. 22But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
  23. 23He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them.

What it means

The people ask God to deal with those hurting innocent people, and the psalm makes a lovely argument: the God who made ears can certainly hear, and the God who made eyes can certainly see. Nothing unfair ever escapes His notice.

A little prayer

God, You made ears, so of course You hear me. You made eyes, so of course You see what happens. Thank You that nothing unfair goes unnoticed by You. Be my comfort when I am troubled. Amen.

Memory verse

“When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.”

Psalm 94:19 (BSB)

It names anxiety honestly and puts something specific against it.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. The psalm says the God who made ears can hear and the God who made eyes can see. Why does that need saying?
  2. It asks God to deal with people who hurt those who cannot defend themselves. Who needs that today?
  3. The psalm says God's comfort brought joy when anxiety was great. What comforts you?
  4. What do you wish someone in charge could see?

Try this

He made the ear

Sit still for one minute and list every sound you can hear, including the quiet ones. Read verse 9 and talk about what it means that God made hearing.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)