Psalm 94 · a question people ask
"You God to whom vengeance belongs" (94:1), and "Pay back the proud what they deserve" (94:2). How can a psalm pray that?
First, what the verses say. The psalm calls God by the word (tap vengeance), and asks him to act: "Rise up, you judge of the earth" (94:2). It gives its reasons: "They break your people in pieces, LORD, and afflict your heritage" (94:5), and "They kill the widow and the alien, and murder the fatherless" (94:6). Every request against the wicked is spoken to God; the psalmist doesn't say he will act against anyone himself. When he asks, "Who will rise up for me against the wicked?" (94:16), the next verse speaks of the LORD's help (94:17), and the last verse says what the LORD does: "He has brought on them their own iniquity" (94:23). The psalm names no nation or person, and these notes apply its words to no one today. Psalm 94 is not the only psalm that prays against enemies, and Christians read these prayers in more than one way. The chapter on Psalm 109 sets out the main readings, each resting on its verses, and chooses none. These notes don't choose either.
The verses
“LORD, you God to whom vengeance belongs, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out. Rise up, you judge of the earth. Pay back the proud what they deserve.”
“They break your people in pieces, LORD, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the alien, and murder the fatherless.”
“Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the evildoers? Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul would have soon lived in silence.”
“He has brought on them their own iniquity, and will cut them off in their own wickedness. The LORD, our God, will cut them off.”