Psalms 94 · The Lantern

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth, thou God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

Arise, thou Judge of the world: and reward the proud after their deserving.

Lord, how long shall the ungodly: how long shall the ungodly triumph?

We have discussed the prayer of holy Job; now let us approach that prayer that we have found in the psalms. David spoke out in many passages in regard to worldly vanity; he often asserted that the supposed goods of this world were vain, especially in the thirty-eighth psalm, in which he says, "And indeed all things are vanity, every one living.

"How long shall sinners, O Lord, how long shall sinners glory?" The sinner who beseeches God earns pardon; but he who glories in his wickedness is proud: and pride has God for its enemy. This which he says, "how long?" — it is to be understood ἀπὸ κοινοῦ ("in common," carried over), so that we may recognize it thus: "How long shall sinners glory?

"Lord, how long shall the ungodly, how long shall the ungodly triumph?" [Psalm 94:3]. "They answer, and will speak wickedness, they all will speak that work unrighteousness" [Psalm 94:4]. What is their saying, but against God, when they say: What profits it us that we live thus? What will you reply? Does God truly regard our deeds?

How long shall all wicked doers speak so disdainfully: and make such proud boasting?

They smite down thy people, O Lord: and trouble thine heritage.

They murder the widow and the stranger: and put the fatherless to death.

And yet they say, Tush, the Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

Take heed, ye unwise among the people: O ye fools, when will ye understand?

He that planted the ear, shall he not hear: or he that made the eye, shall he not see?

Or he that nurtureth the heathen: it is he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he punish?

"He who instructs the nations, shall he not reprove?" This is what he says: he who gave the law, gave it for this purpose, that he might instruct those who hear, or punish those who despise. "He who teaches man knowledge." He did not add, "Shall he himself not have knowledge?" But what did he say?

So this Peter, playing the great part I have suggested to you, is questioned by the Lord after the resurrection, as we had it read to us, and he said to him, "Simon of John"—you see, he was called Simon when he was born; he was the son of John—"Simon of John, do you love me more than these?" Who is doing the questioning? The one who knew everything.

"He who chastises the nations, shall he not rebuke, he who teaches man knowledge?" The Psalm of David says that the great teacher of knowledge is God. You know that if someone must draw water, he more willingly draws it from its original source than from a rivulet.

The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man: that they are but vain.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. [Psalms 94:11] Therefore let no man glory in men.

"The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain." Men marvel at the philosophers and poets who say: "O the cares of men! O how much emptiness there is in things!" Behold, the psalm of David, many ages before, spoke the same sentiment. "The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain." As long as we are men, we have vain thoughts.

People argue against this evident truth. What else, after all, could you expect from mere people, who savor the things of humankind, but to argue about God against God? I mean, he is God, they are mere individuals.

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord: and teachest him in thy law;

"Blessed is the man whom you shall instruct, O Lord." Happy is he who has God as his teacher. "And whom you shall teach out of your law: that you may soften for him the evil days." See what he says. "Blessed is the man whom you shall instruct, O Lord, and whom you shall teach out of your law" — that is, out of your Scriptures.

"Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord: and teachest him from Your law" [Psalm 94:12]. Behold, you have the counsel of God, wherefore He spares the wicked: the pit is being dug for the sinner. You wish to bury him at once: the pit is as yet being dug for him: do not be in haste to bury him. What mean the words, "until the pit be dug up for the sinner"?

And again, in another place, he [David] ascribeth blessedness to the man who feareth God, and he maketh known what good things the fear of God worketh in him that feareth [Him], saying, "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord", and here the fearer of God is accounted blessed.

That thou mayest give him patience in time of adversity: until the pit be digged up for the ungodly.

For the Lord will not fail his people: neither will he forsake his inheritance;

Until righteousness turn again unto judgement: all such as are true in heart shall follow it.

Who will rise up with me against the wicked: or who will take my part against the evil-doers?

If the Lord had not helped me: it had not failed but my soul had been put to silence.

But when I said, My foot hath slipt: thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.

In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart: thy comforts have refreshed my soul.

Wilt thou have any thing to do with the stool of wickedness: which imagineth mischief as a law?

They gather them together against the soul of the righteous: and condemn the innocent blood.

But the Lord is my refuge: and my God is the strength of my confidence.

He shall recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice: yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them.

Psalms94