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Commentary on Psalms 94 verses 12–23
The psalmist, having denounced tribulation to those that trouble God's people, here assures those that are troubled of rest. See Th2 1:6, Th2 1:7. He speaks comfort to suffering saints from God's promises and his own experience.
I. From God's promises, which are such as not only save them from being miserable, but secure a happiness to them (Psa 94:12): Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest. Here he looks above the instruments of trouble, and eyes the hand of God, which gives it another name and puts quite another color upon it. The enemies break in pieces God's people (Psa 94:5); they aim at no less; but the truth of the matter is that God by them chastens his people, as the father the son in whom he delights, and the persecutors are only the rod he makes use of. Howbeit they mean not so, neither doth their heart think so, Isa 10:5-7. Now it is here promised,
1.That God's people shall get good by their sufferings. When he chastens them he will teach them, and blessed is the man who is thus taken under a divine discipline, for none teaches like God. Note, (1.) The afflictions of the saints are fatherly chastenings, designed for their instruction, reformation, and improvement. (2.) When the teachings of the word and Spirit go along with the rebukes of Providence they then both manifest men to be blessed and help to make them so; for then they are marks of adoption and means of sanctification. When we are chastened we must pray to be taught, and look into the law as the best expositor of Providence. It is not the chastening itself that does good, but the teaching that goes along with it and is the exposition of it.
2.That they shall see through their sufferings (Psa 94:13): That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity. Note, (1.) There is a rest remaining for the people of God after the days of their adversity, which, though they may be many and long, shall be numbered and finished in due time, and shall not last always. He that sends the trouble will send the rest, that he may comfort them according to the time that he has afflicted them. (2.) God therefore teaches his people by their troubles, that he may prepare them for deliverance, and so give them rest from their troubles, that, being reformed, they may be relieved, and that the affliction, having done its work, may be removed.
3.That they shall see the ruin of those that are the instruments of their sufferings, which is the matter of a promise, not as gratifying any passion of theirs, but as redounding to the glory of God: Until the pit is digged (or rather while the pit is digging) for the wicked, God is ordering peace for them at the same time that he is ordaining his arrows against the persecutors.
4.That, though they may be cast down, yet certainly they shall not be cast off, Psa 94:14. Let God's suffering people assure themselves of this, that, whatever their friends do, God will not cast them off, nor throw them out of his covenant or out of his care; he will not forsake them, because they are his inheritance, which he will not quit his title to nor suffer himself to be disseised of. St. Paul comforted himself with this, Rom 11:1.
5.That, bad as things are, they shall mend, and, though they are now out of course, yet they shall return to their due and ancient channel (Psa 94:15): Judgment shall return unto righteousness; the seeming disorders of Providence (for real ones there never were) shall be rectified. God's judgment, that is, his government, looks sometimes as if it were at a distance from righteousness, while the wicked prosper, and the best men meet with the worst usage; but it shall return to righteousness again, either in this world or at the furthest in the judgment of the great day, which will set all to-rights. Then all the upright in heart shall be after it; they shall follow it with their praises, and with entire satisfaction; they shall return to a prosperous and flourishing condition, and shine forth out of obscurity; they shall accommodate themselves to the dispensations of divine Providence, and with suitable affections attend all its motions. They shall walk after the Lord, Hos 11:10. Dr. Hammond thinks this was most eminently fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem first, and afterwards of heathen Rome, the crucifiers of Christ and persecutors of Christians, and the rest which the churches had thereby. Then judgment returned even to righteousness, to mercy and goodness, and favour to God's people, who then were as much countenanced as before they had been trampled on.
II. From his own experiences and observations.
1.He and his friends had been oppressed by cruel and imperious men, that had power in their hands and abused it by abusing all good people with it. They were themselves evil-doers and workers of iniquity (Psa 94:16); they abandoned themselves to all manner of impiety and immorality, and then their throne was a throne of iniquity, Psa 94:20. Their dignity served to put a reputation upon sin, and their authority was employed to support it, and to bring about their wicked designs. It is a pity that ever a throne, which should be a terror to evil-doers and a protection and praise to those that do well, should be the seat and shelter of iniquity. That is a throne of iniquity which by the policy of its council frames mischief, and by its sovereignty enacts it and turns it into a law. Iniquity is daring enough even when human laws are against it, which often prove too weak to give an effectual check to it; but how insolent, how mischievous, is it when it is backed by a law! Iniquity is not the better, but much the worse, for being enacted by law; nor will it excuse those that practise it to say that they did but do as they were bidden. These workers of iniquity, having framed mischief by a law, take care to see the law executed; for they gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, who dare not keep the statutes of Omri nor the law of the house of Ahab; and they condemn the innocent blood for violating their decrees. See an instance in Daniel's enemies; they framed mischief by a law when the obtained an impious edict against prayer (Dan 6:7), and, when Daniel would not obey it, they assembled together against him (Psa 94:11) and condemned his innocent blood to the lions. The best benefactors of mankind have often been thus treated, under colour of law and justice, as the worst of malefactors.
2.The oppression they were under bore very hard upon them, and oppressed their spirits too. Let not suffering saints despair, though, when they are persecuted, they find themselves perplexed and cast down; it was so with the psalmist here: His soul had almost dwelt in silence (Psa 94:17); he was at his wits' end, and knew not what to say or do; he was, in his own apprehensions, at his life's end, ready to drop into the grave, that land of silence. St. Paul, in a like case, received a sentence of death within himself, Co2 1:8, Co2 1:9. He said, "My foot slippeth (Psa 94:18); I am going irretrievably; there is no remedy; I must fall. I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul. My hope fails me; I do not find such firm footing for my faith as I have sometimes found." Psa 73:2. He had a multitude of perplexed entangled thoughts within him concerning the case he was in and the construction to be made of it, and concerning the course he should take and what was likely to be the issue of it.
3.In this distress they sought for help, and succour, and some relief. (1.) They looked about for it and were disappointed (Psa 94:16): "Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers? Have I any friend who, in love to me, will appear for me? Has justice any friend who, in a pious indignation at unrighteousness, will plead my injured cause?" He looked, but there was none to save, there was none to uphold. Note, When on the side of the oppressors there is power it is no marvel if the oppressed have no comforter, none that dare own them, or speak a good word for them, Ecc 4:1. When St. Paul was brought before Nero's throne of iniquity no man stood by him, Ti2 4:16. (2.) They looked up for it, Psa 94:20. They humbly expostulate with God: "Lord, shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee? Wilt thou countenance and support these tyrants in their wickedness? We know thou wilt not." A throne has fellowship with God when it is a throne of justice and answers the end of the erecting of it; for by him kings reign, and when they reign for him their judgments are his, and he owns them as his ministers, and whoever resist them, or rise up against them, shall receive to themselves damnation; but, when it becomes a throne of iniquity, it has no longer fellowship with God. Far be it from the just and holy God that he should be the patron of unrighteousness, even in princes and those that sit in thrones, yea, though they be the thrones of the house of David.
4.They found succour and relief in God, and in him only. When other friends failed, in him they had a faithful and powerful friend; and it is recommended to all God's suffering saints to trust in him. (1.) God helps at a dead lift (Psa 94:17): "When I had almost dwelt in silence, then the Lord was my help, kept me alive, kept me in heart; and unless I had made him my help, by putting my trust in him and expecting relief from him, I could never have kept possession of my own soul; but living by faith in him has kept my head above water, has given me breath, and something to say." (2.) God's goodness is the great support of sinking spirits (Psa 94:18): "When I said, My foot slips into sin, into ruin, into despair, then thy mercy, O Lord! held me up, kept me from falling, and defeated the design of those who consulted to cast me down from my excellency," Psa 62:4. We are beholden not only to God's power, but to his pity, for spiritual supports: Thy mercy, the gifts of thy mercy and my hope in thy mercy, held me up. God's right hand sustains his people when they look on their right hand and on their left and there is none to uphold; and we are then prepared for his gracious supports when we are sensible of our own weakness and inability to stand by our own strength, and come to God, to acknowledge it, and to tell him how our foot slips. (3.) Divine consolations are the effectual relief of troubled spirits (Psa 94:19): "In the multitude of my thoughts within me, which are noisy like a multitude, crowding and jostling one another like a multitude, and very unruly and ungovernable, in the multitude of my sorrowful, solicitous, timorous thoughts, thy comforts delight my soul; and they are never more delightful than when they come in so seasonably to silence my unquiet thoughts and keep my mind easy." The world's comforts give but little delight to the soul when it is hurried with melancholy thoughts; they are songs to a heavy heart. But God's comforts will reach the soul, and not the fancy only, and will bring with them that peace and that pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give and which the frowns of the world cannot take away.
5.God is, and will be, as a righteous Judge, the patron and protector of right and the punisher and avenger of wrong; this the psalmist had both the assurance of and the experience of. (1.) He will give redress to the injured (Psa 94:22): "When none else will, nor can, nor dare, shelter me, the Lord is my defence, to preserve me from the evil of my troubles, from sinking under them and being ruined by them; and he is the rock of my refuge, in the clefts of which I may take shelter, and on the top of which I may set my feet, to be out of the reach of danger." God is his people's refuge, to whom they may flee, in whom they are safe and may be secure; he is the rock of their refuge, so strong, so firm, impregnable, immovable, as a rock: natural fastnesses sometimes exceed artificial fortifications. (2.) He will reckon with the injurious (Psa 94:23): He shall render to them their own iniquity; he shall deal with them according to their deserts, and that very mischief which they did and designed against God's people shall be brought upon themselves: it follows, He shall cut them off in their wickedness. A man cannot be more miserable than his own wickedness will make him if God visit it upon him: it will cut him in the remembrance of it; it will cut him off in the recompence of it. This the psalm concludes with the triumphant assurance of: Yea, the Lord our God, who takes our part and owns us for his, shall cut them off from any fellowship with him, and so shall make them completely miserable and their pomp and power shall stand them in no stead.
How much power in any case can mortals have? Let mortals hold on to justice; power will be given them when they are immortal. Compared with this, the power of those people who are called powerful on earth is shown to be ridiculous weakness, and “a pit is dug for the sinner” in the very place where the wicked seem to be able to do most. The just person sings, “Happy is the one whom you instruct, Lord, and teach from your law, in order to comfort him in evil days, until a pit is dug for the sinners. For the Lord will not reject his people or forsake his inheritance, until justice turns into judgment, and those who have it are all of an upright heart.” So in this time during which the power of the people of God is being deferred, God will not reject his people or forsake his inheritance, however bitter and humiliating the trials it suffers in its humility and weakness, until the justice that now belongs to the weakness of the godly turns into judgment, that is until it receives the authority to judge, which is being reserved for the just in the end, when power follows in its proper order on the justice that preceded it.
"That You may give him patience in days of malice: until the pit be dug up for the ungodly" [Psalm 94:13]. Have patience therefore every one, if you are a Christian, in time of malice. Days of malice are those in which the ungodly appear to flourish, and the righteous to suffer; but the suffering of the righteous is the rod of the Father, and the prosperity of the ungodly is their own snare. For because God gives you patience in time of adversity, until the pit be dug up for the ungodly, do not think that the Angels are standing in some place with mattocks, and are digging that great pit which shall be able to contain the whole race of the ungodly; and because ye see that the wicked are many, and say unto yourselves carnally: Truly what pit can contain so great a multitude of the wicked, such a crowd of sinners? Where is a pit of such dimensions, as to contain all, dug? When finished? Therefore God spares them. This is not so: their very prosperity is the pit of the wicked: for into that shall they fall, as it were into a pitfall. Attend, brethren, for it is a great thing to know that prosperity is called a pitfall: "until the pit be dug up for the ungodly." For God spares him whom He knows to be ungodly and impious, in His own hidden justice: and this very sparing of God, causes him to be puffed up through his impunity....The proud man raises himself up against God: God sinks him: and he sinks by the very act of raising himself up against God. For in another Psalm he thus says, "You have cast them down, while they were being exalted." He said not, You have cast them down, because they were exalted; or, You have cast them down, after they were exalted; so that the period of their exaltation be one, of their casting down another: but in the very act of their exaltation were they cast down. For in proportion as the heart of man is proud, so does it recede from God; and if it recede from God, it sinks down into the deep. On the other hand, the humble heart brings God unto it from heaven, so that He becomes very near unto it. Surely God is lofty, God is above all the heavens, He surpasses all the Angels: how high must these be raised, to reach that exalted One? Do not burst yourself by enlarging yourself; I give you other advice, lest perchance in enlarging yourself you burst, through pride: surely God is lofty: do thou humble yourself, and He will descend unto you.
What indeed does holy Scripture say in a psalm to those members who endure the wickedness of this age? “The Lord will not cast off his people.” His people, in truth, toil among the unworthy, among the wicked, among blasphemers, among murmurers, detractors, persecutors, and, if it be allowed, killers. It toils indeed, but “the Lord will not cast off his people, and he will not forsake his own inheritance until justice is turned to judgment.” “Until justice,” which the saints now possess, “is turned to judgment,” when what was said to them will be fulfilled: “You will sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” The apostle possessed justice, but not yet that judgment about which he says, “Do you not know that we shall judge angels?”
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SUMMARY
Psalms 94:13 offers a profound declaration of divine solace and ultimate justice, assuring the righteous a deep "rest" and inner tranquility amidst their periods of suffering and adversity. This divinely bestowed peace endures until the appointed time when God's inevitable and righteous judgment falls upon the wicked, who are destined for utter destruction. The verse thus powerfully encapsulates God's unwavering faithfulness and protective care for His people in the face of trials, starkly contrasting their promised serenity with the certain downfall of those who defiantly oppose Him.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalms 94 is a passionate psalm of lament and imprecation, commencing with an fervent appeal to God as the "God of vengeance" Psalms 94:1 against arrogant oppressors who disregard divine law and inflict suffering upon the innocent. The psalmist vividly describes the wicked's boastful iniquity and their contempt for God's knowledge (vv. 2-7) before emphatically asserting God's omniscient awareness and ultimate sovereignty over all human affairs, challenging those who deny His understanding (vv. 8-11). Verse 12 then introduces the blessedness of the individual whom the Lord disciplines and teaches from His law, thereby setting the theological foundation for the promise of rest and judgment articulated in verse 13. The psalm subsequently reaffirms God's unfailing support for His people (vv. 14-15) and the psalmist's personal testimony of divine comfort amidst profound distress (vv. 16-19), culminating in a confident declaration of God's righteous judgment against the very "throne of iniquity" (vv. 20-23).
Historical & Cultural Context: The historical and cultural backdrop for many psalms, including Psalm 94, often reflects periods of intense national or individual distress, where the righteous experienced severe oppression from both internal and external adversaries. Israel's unique covenant relationship with Yahweh fostered a deep-seated expectation of divine justice; it was understood that obedience would bring blessing, while wickedness would inevitably incur judgment. The vivid imagery of "digging a pit" was a pervasive ancient Near Eastern metaphor for setting a trap, preparing an ambush, or orchestrating destruction, commonly employed in contexts of warfare, hunting, or malicious plotting. Culturally, the concept of "rest" (derived from the Hebrew root shâqaṭ in this verse) was multifaceted, encompassing not only a cessation from physical labor but also a profound sense of security from enemies, and a deep, internal peace stemming from God's covenant faithfulness and protective presence. This psalm powerfully articulates the universal human experience of witnessing pervasive injustice and the profound longing for God's righteous intervention to rectify a world that frequently appears to favor the ungodly.
Key Themes: This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes prevalent within the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative. It emphatically highlights the theme of Divine Justice, affirming that God is never indifferent to evil but will ultimately execute righteous judgment upon the wicked, even if His timing appears delayed from a human perspective. It powerfully underscores God's Sovereignty and Unwavering Care for His people, promising them profound "rest" even in the midst of severe "adversity," thereby demonstrating His active provision of peace and security that transcends circumstances. The verse also sharply delineates a Profound Contrast Between the Righteous and the Wicked, revealing their distinct and antithetical destinies: enduring comfort and rest for the faithful, and certain, inescapable destruction for the ungodly. This stark contrast serves to encourage Patient Endurance and Steadfast Trust in God's perfect timing and His meticulously righteous plan, a theme echoed in other wisdom literature such as Proverbs 26:27 and Psalm 37:7.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 94:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message of divine justice and comfort. Juxtaposition is central to the verse, sharply contrasting the serene "rest" granted to the righteous with the destructive "pit" awaiting the wicked, thereby powerfully highlighting their divergent and antithetical destinies. The "pit" itself functions as a powerful Metaphor for ruin, destruction, and ultimate judgment, drawing on common ancient Near Eastern imagery of traps, snares, and graves. While the "pit" is "digged," the use of the passive voice ("be digged") subtly implies a divine agency at work, even if not explicitly stated, underscoring God's Sovereignty and active role in orchestrating the ultimate fate of both the righteous and the wicked. The entire verse also serves as a clear example of Antithesis, presenting opposing ideas (rest vs. destruction, righteous vs. wicked) in a parallel structure to emphasize the psalmist's core theological point regarding God's righteous governance of the world.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 94:13 powerfully articulates the enduring biblical tension between the present suffering of the righteous and the often-perceived prosperity of the wicked, resolving it with the unwavering promise of God's ultimate justice and profound comfort. Theologically, it affirms God's active and personal involvement in human affairs, not merely as a distant observer but as a righteous Judge who deeply cares for His people and will bring all injustice to a meticulous account. The "rest" offered to the righteous is a profound foretaste of the eschatological peace and security promised to believers, while the "pit" for the wicked foreshadows the final, inescapable, and eternal judgment. This verse profoundly encourages patient endurance and steadfast faith, reminding believers that their trials are temporary and serve a divine purpose, ultimately culminating in God's vindication of His people and the certain downfall of the ungodly.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 94:13 serves as a profound anchor for believers navigating a world often rife with injustice, suffering, and the perplexing prosperity of the wicked. It calls us to cultivate a deep, internal "rest" in God's unwavering sovereignty, even when external circumstances are tumultuous and the ungodly seem to flourish unchecked. This promised rest is not a passive resignation to fate but an active, deliberate trust in God's perfect timing and His unwavering commitment to absolute righteousness. It liberates us from the heavy burden of seeking personal vengeance, empowering us to release our grievances into the hands of the ultimate and perfectly just Judge, who declares, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" Romans 12:19. The verse profoundly encourages us to find our peace not in the absence of adversity, but in the enduring presence and unfailing promises of God, knowing with certainty that He is actively working to bring about His just purposes, both for our ultimate good and for the definitive defeat of all evil.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What kind of "rest" is promised to the righteous in this verse?
Answer: The "rest" promised in Psalms 94:13 (from the Hebrew root shâqaṭ, H8252) is far more than simply the absence of trouble or a cessation of physical activity. Instead, it signifies a deep, internal, spiritual peace and profound security that God provides to His people, even while they are still actively enduring "days of adversity." It is a profound tranquility of soul, a settling of the spirit that transcends challenging external circumstances and emotional turmoil. This rest is a divine gift, enabling the righteous to remain steadfast, confident, and unshakeable in God's care and ultimate justice, rather than being overwhelmed by the turmoil of their suffering. It profoundly reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty and His unfailing promise to sustain them until His righteous purposes are fully accomplished.
Does "until the pit be digged for the wicked" imply that the wicked are actively digging their own destruction, or is it God's action?
Answer: While the Bible frequently speaks of the wicked falling into the very traps they themselves set Psalm 7:15, the passive construction "until the pit be digged" in Psalms 94:13 strongly suggests a divinely ordained and meticulously prepared outcome. It points directly to the certainty of God's judgment rather than solely the wicked's self-destructive actions. God, as the ultimate sovereign and righteous Judge, ensures that the "pit" of destruction is ready and waiting for those who persist in wickedness. It implies that their downfall is not accidental or merely a consequence of their own folly, but a fixed, inevitable, and divinely administered consequence under God's just governance, providing profound assurance to the righteous that their suffering has a definitive end point tied to God's ultimate triumph over evil.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 94:13 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "rest" promised to the righteous from their days of adversity is perfectly embodied in Christ's gracious invitation: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28. Through His finished work on the cross, believers are granted not just a temporary reprieve but eternal rest from the crushing burden of sin, the condemnation of the law, and the ultimate power of death. He is our true Sabbath rest Hebrews 4:9-10, providing a peace that "surpasses all understanding" Philippians 4:7. Furthermore, the "pit" dug for the wicked finds its ultimate expression in the final judgment and eternal separation from God. While humanity justly deserved this "pit" for its rebellion and sin, Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, bore the full wrath of God and descended into the "pit" of death and hell on our behalf, so that all who believe in Him might be eternally spared. His glorious resurrection is the definitive victory over that "pit," ensuring that for His followers, there is now "no condemnation" Romans 8:1. The certain judgment awaiting the wicked is ultimately fulfilled in Christ's role as the righteous Judge at the end of the age Revelation 19:11-16, bringing to completion the ancient promise of Psalms 94:13.