Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. Psalm 94:12-13 NIV

This psalm discusses God, sinners and the blessings of the Lord’s loving correction of those who love him. It was written in a time of oppression and persecution of the faithful servants of God. A plea for God to rise up in judgment of the wicked opens the psalm.

Lines one through eleven deal with the arrogance and recklessness of those who reject God and persecute his faithful. The second half of the work presents comfort and peace for the persecuted, assuring the faithful of God’s justice and reliability. Encouragingly, the psalm promises relief from days of trouble for those who receive God’s discipline and learn from the Lord’s law.

The author presents an accusation against the wicked in Psalm 94:6 writing, “They kill the widow and the alien, and murder the fatherless. WEB” Condemning the foolishness of the evil he writes in verse nine, “He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear? He who formed the eye, won’t he see? WEB” With these words, the writer demonstrates faith in God and hints at the surety of his justice.

Go to God in Times of Trouble

Verse twelve begins to address the value and comfort that come from a life devoted to the righteous Creator. Saying that the one God disciplines is blessed, the psalm signifies the correction of a loving Father and the value of his holy word. Writing that the Lord grants relief from days of trouble, the author highlights the peace and comfort of God as a refuge in difficult circumstances.

The psalm ends with the assurance of faith in the justice and protection of God. In verses twenty-two through twenty-three we read, “But the Lord is my defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge. And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off. KJV”

Yesterday’s Devotional: All Authority