12 O the happiness of the man Whom Thou instructest, O Jah, And out of Thy law teachest him, 13 To give rest to him from days of evil, While a pit is digged for the wicked. 14 For Jehovah leaveth not His people, And His inheritance forsaketh not. 15 For to righteousness judgment turneth back, And after it all the upright of heart, 16 Who riseth up for me with evil doers? Who stationeth himself for me with workers of iniquity? 17 Unless Jehovah 'were' a help to me, My soul had almost inhabited silence. 18 If I have said, 'My foot hath slipped,' Thy kindness, O Jehovah, supporteth me. 19 In the abundance of my thoughts within me, Thy comforts delight my soul. 20 Is a throne of mischief joined 'with' Thee? A framer of perverseness by statute? 21 They decree against the soul of the righteous, And innocent blood declare wicked. 22 And Jehovah is for a high place to me, And my God 'is' for a rock—my refuge, 23 And turneth back on them their iniquity, And in their wickedness cutteth them off; Jehovah our God doth cut them off!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 94:12-23
Commentary on Psalm 94:12-23
(Read Psalm 94:12-23)
That man is blessed, who, under the chastening of the Lord, is taught his will and his truths, from his holy word, and by the Holy Spirit. He should see mercy through his sufferings. There is a rest remaining for the people of God after the days of their adversity, which shall not last always. He that sends the trouble, will send the rest. The psalmist found succour and relief only in the Lord, when all earthly friends failed. We are beholden, not only to God's power, but to his pity, for spiritual supports; and if we have been kept from falling into sin, or shrinking from our duty, we should give him the glory, and encourage our brethren. The psalmist had many troubled thoughts concerning the case he was in, concerning the course he should take, and what was likely to be the end of it. The indulgence of such contrivances and fears, adds to care and distrust, and renders our views more gloomy and confused. Good men sometimes have perplexed and distressed thoughts concerning God. But let them look to the great and precious promises of the gospel. The world's comforts give little delight to the soul, when hurried with melancholy thoughts; but God's comforts bring that peace and pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give, and which the frowns of the world cannot take away. God is his people's Refuge, to whom they may flee, in whom they are safe, and may be secure. And he will reckon with the wicked. A man cannot be more miserable than his own wickedness will make him, if the Lord visit it upon him.