Psalm 94 Study Notes

94:12-13 God will discipline those he loves, correcting and instructing them in order to bring them back into relationship with him (Heb 12:3-13). God recognizes humanity’s inherent weaknesses. Anyone of v. 12 is blessed by a degree of peace in troubled times until the wicked are removed.

‘Anah in the intensive means carry out raids against (Nm 24:24), oppress (Gn 15:13), mistreat (Ex 22:22), or overwhelm (Ps 88:7). It is a homonym of ‘anah meaning “answer.” God humbled people (Dt 8:2) or broke their strength (Ps 102:23). He used affliction to do so (Dt 8:2-16). Israelites practiced self-denial (Lv 23:29) or denied themselves (Is 58:3) in order to become humble (Lv 16:29). ‘Anah is make helpless (Jdg 16:5) or hurt (Ps 105:18). Sexually, it implies violating (Dt 22:24). One rapes and abuses others (Jdg 20:5; 19:24), disgracing them (2Sm 13:12,22). A passive infinitive connotes hardship (Ps 132:1). Reflexives mean humble oneself (Ex 10:3) or suffer (1Kg 2:26). The regular verb indicates be subdued (Is 31:4). It, along with passive verbs, denotes be afflicted (Ps 119:107) or suffer affliction (Ps 107:17). Causatives involve humiliating others (Ps 55:19), silencing songs (Is 25:5), or submitting to authority (Gn 16:9).

94:14-15 Compare v. 14 with v. 5. If the Lord were to abandon his people, injustice would reign over them forever.

94:16-19 The Lord sustains the righteous in their battle with the wicked.

94:20 Corrupt rulers enact legislation that persecutes the righteous and enables wickedness, which is clearly contrary to God’s will.