In the first half of Psalm 94, there is an appeal for God to rise up and execute justice. The psalmist has described the sins of the arrogant which he is asking to avenge. He has warned the arrogant that God knows and sees all things. But what about those who are oppressed? What about the righteous? In the second half of the psalm, God has plenty of encouragement for them. It begins with an assurance that the evils they endure in this world are for their own discipline in the school of faith. This discipline is not a punishment for sin. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom 8:1), as our sins were punished on His cross. But from the story of Job we know that those who are righteous by faith may still suffer greatly (v 12-15). All of God’s purposes are not easy to discern in such cases, but we can be sure of this: a hard life may cause us to turn to God that we might learn more about Him. This is why wise believers rejoice in trials of various kinds, counting themselves “blessed” by the discipline of the LORD. The wicked will eventually fall into His judgment. But as present suffering drives us to God and to His Word, our faith is refined and strengthened, and God promises “rest” or relief in due time. Having assured the righteous that God is faithful, the psalmist then gives his own testimony of God’s faithfulness to him He says that his foot was slipping when the LORD reached out to help him at the last moment (v 16-19). Believers should rise up and stand alongside one another in their opposition to evil. But that does not always happen. The psalmist found himself alone and unsupported in his time of need, but the LORD upheld him. He admits that he felt anxious, but in the LORD he received comfort and renewed hope. Returning to the theme which opened the psalm, the last stanza of Psalm 94 highlights the certainty of the LORD’s justice. Corrupt rulers of this world will never have God on their side. They may unite together in persecution of the righteous, but in the end, there will be a dramatic turning of the tables, for “the LORD our God will wipe them out.” Meanwhile, He is a “stronghold” for those who take refuge in Him. You may feel vulnerable and threatened today, but you are not abandoned. Whenever you feel defenseless, just remember: God is all the protection you need (v 20-23). For further meditation: