Psalms 94:1

PSALM XCIV

An appeal to God against oppressors, 1-7.

Expostulations with the workers of iniquity, 8-11.

God's merciful dealings with his followers, 12-15;

and their confidence in him, 16-19.

The punishment of the wicked foretold, 20-23.

NOTES ON PSALM XCIV

This Psalm has no title either in the Hebrew or Chaldee. The Vulgate, Septuagint, AEthiopic, and Arabic, have "A Psalm of David, for the fourth day of the week;" but this gives us no information on which we can rely. In three of Kennicott's MSS. it is written as a part of the preceding. It is probably a prayer of the captives in Babylon for deliverance; and was written by the descendants of Moses, to whom some of the preceding Psalms have been attributed. It contains a description of an iniquitous and oppressive government, such as that under which the Israelites lived in Babylon.

Verse Psalms 94:1. O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth] God is the author of retributive justice, as well as of mercy. This retributive justice is what we often term vengeance, but perhaps improperly; for vengeance with us signifies an excitement of angry passions, in order to gratify a vindictive spirit, which supposes itself to have received some real injury; whereas what is here referred to is that simple act of justice which gives to all their due.