Have you ever tried to play hide-and-go-seek with a two-year-old? It can be pretty comical. I remember playing the game with my son at that age and found him standing next to his bed with his face buried in the covers. He thought, “If I cannot see my dad, he must not be able to see me!” While this is cute in a toddler, it would be foolish for an adult to hide in that way.
In Psalm 94, the wicked seem to have this perspective toward God. Because they do not see God immediately judging them for their acts of oppression and violence, they conclude that God must not have noticed. “They say, ‘The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice’” (v. 7).
However, the Psalmist knows that God is the judge of all the earth. The question for him is not “Will God judge?” But it’s rather, “How long, Lord, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant?” (v. 3). He encourages the wicked to change their thinking. Instead of acting like fools, they should pursue wisdom (v. 8). He reminds them that God is the one who created the ear and the eye, surely He also can see and hear (v. 9)! Nothing escapes God’s notice, He “knows all human plans” (v. 11).
Blessed is the one who submits to God’s discipline and learns from God’s Word (v. 12). This person knows that their only hope against the wicked is to trust in the Lord (vv. 16–17).
>> We need to remember that God will one day bring justice to a corrupt world. Regardless of how things look at the moment, Scripture teaches that God is the judge of all the earth. He cares about the suffering of the oppressed and will one day act to right all wrongs (Rev. 6:9–11). One day our lament will not be “How long?” But instead, “At last!”
Pray with Us
God in Heaven, You have claimed vengeance for Your own. May we love those who hate us enough to tell them about Your Son, that they may be forgiven for the very acts they have hurt us with.
BY Ryan Cook
Dr. Ryan Cook has taught at Moody Bible Institute since 2012. He earned his bachelor of arts in Bible and Theology from Moody and his master of arts in Old Testament from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He has worked in Christian education and served as a pastor in Michigan for seven years. During his time as a professor at Moody, he earned his doctorate from Asbury Theological Seminary. He now lives with his wife, Ashley, and their three children in the Chicagoland area.