Introduction:
“The occasion of this Psalm was David’s deep and long-continued distresses, from which he prays for deliverance.” —Matthew Poole.
“It was, doubtless, more than once the language of that much tried man of God, and is intended to express the feelings of the people of God in those ever returning trials which beset them. If the reader has never yet found occasion to use the language of this brief ode, he will do so ere long, if he be a man after the Lord’s own heart.” —Charles H. Spurgeon.
A. How long shall the wicked triumph? v. 1; Psalms 94:3, “LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?”
B. How long will the wicked continue to boast? Psalms 94:4, “How long shall they utter and speak hard things? And all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?”
C. How long will the enemy blaspheme thy name? Psalm 74:10, “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?”
1. They have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed, Psalm 89:51, “Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.”
2. Every day they distort our words, Psalm 56:5-6, “Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6- They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.”
D. The afflicted have liberty to pour out their complaint before the Lord, v. 2; Psalm 102:1-2, “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. 2- Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.”
1. The prayers of God’s people prompt Him to avenge them of their adversaries, Luke 18:1-3, 7, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2- Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3- And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 7- And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”
2. The Lord will not cast off His people, Psalm 94:14, “For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.”
A. Consider my trouble, v. 3; Psalms 9:13, “Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:”
1. I do not forget thy law, Psalms 25:19, “Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.”
2. Behold our reproach, Lamentations 5:1, “Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.”
3. The Lord will light my lamp, Psalms 18:28, “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.”
a. The Lord will revive and comfort my sorrowful spirit, Psalm 138:7, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.”
b. The Lord will recover me out of my troubles and restore me to peace, Psalm 37:37, “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.”
B. Consider my enemies, Psalms 25:19, “Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.”
1. The sinner deludes himself, Psalms 10:11, “He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.”
2. Hear me, Lord, lest they should rejoice over me, Psalms 38:16, “For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.”
A. I have trusted in thy mercy, v. 5; Psalm 89:1-2, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. 2- For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.”
B. We are surrounded by His mercy, Psalms 32:10, “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
1. His eye is upon us, Psalms 33:18, “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;”
2. Our hearts rejoice in Him, Psalms 33:21, “For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”
C. David joyful retracts his earlier statement the God has forgotten him, v. 6; Psalms 116:7, “Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.”
1. He trusted in God’s unfailing love, 1 John 4:9, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”
2. David sings to the LORD for giving him salvation and for dealing bountifully with him, Psalm 47:6-7, “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.”