Psalm 94

Psalm 94 is a lament grounded in the confidence that the LORD reigns, even when wicked people appear to have power and justice seems absent. The psalm begins by crying out to God to act against oppression and evil, a cry that can be hard for those living comfortable lives to grasp until we hear the experiences of persecuted Christians such as Nathalie, whose husband was among 31 Christians brutally killed in Burkina Faso. Yet the psalm answers this anguish with the assurance that God sees and knows what evil rulers do, and that there is blessing in belonging to God even while living under unjust human authority. Ultimately, this hope is centred on Christ: although he was unjustly condemned and executed by the rulers of his day, his death was according to God’s saving plan, demonstrating that God can work for the good of his people even through terrible circumstances. Therefore, whatever our troubles, God is our present help, comfort and security; he will not abandon his people, and his future justice will finally overthrow evil and bring peace. The psalm moves from the anguished question “How long?” to confident trust: God is our help now, and his coming justice is our hope for the future.