Psalm 94: Are You Teachable!

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33 

 

      God is Our Refuge [to the teachable spirit]

 1   O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs—

      O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

 2   Rise up, O Judge of the earth, render punishment to the proud.

 3   Lord, how long will the wicked… how long will the wicked triumph?

 4   They utter speech, and speak insolent things—

      All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.

 5   They break in pieces Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage.

 6   They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.

 7   Yet they say, “The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand.”  

 8   Understand, you senseless among the people—

      You fool, when will you be wise?

 9   Who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?

10   Who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge?

11   The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.

12   Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law,

13   That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked.

14   For the Lord will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance.

15   But judgment will return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. 

 

16   Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?  Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

17   Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence.

18   If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.

19   In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.

20   Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You?

21   They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.

22   But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.

23   He has brought on them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness—

       The Lord our God shall cut them off.

 

The Blessings of Discipline

Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until a pit is dug for his enemies… [94:23, 13]

 “Without discipline, there can be no real teaching.”  Much of discipline has been abandoned - and because of it teaching has ceased.  A good teacher knows the importance of discipline.   But God is a bit wiser… He will not try to teach anyone who refuses His discipline.  There is great reward for those who come under the Lord’s discipline and accepts His teaching. 

“You may give him rest from the days of trouble, until a pit is dug for his enemies.”

Even now the Lord is preparing a season of judgment for the disobedient.  He is committed to sparing those who are submitted to His discipline and teaching.  We are confronted with two choices:

   We can came under His discipline now and be saved from His judgments… or,
   We can refuse it now and come under judgment and trouble in the days ahead.  

 

When Our Foot Slips

When I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your love and mercy, O Lord, supports me.

When anxiety is great within me, Your comfort is a delight to my soul… [94:18, 19]

 

God knows all of all weaknesses.  All He asks of us is that that we present ourselves to Him without a façade of strength that has no reality.  He asks that we yield to Him all we have no matter how small or inadequate we may think it is.  His grace supplies all that we lack. “My foot is slipping...” the psalmist cried to God.  He was falling and knew he could not save himself.  As he acknowledged his own need, God came to the rescue.  “Your love, O Lord, Supported me.”   We must remember in times of trouble, to call out our need to Him… His love will be there to support and uphold us.