Psalm 94 (93):20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

These observations may lead the weary to despair, thinking their righteousness is in vain, for it appears as though God turns a blind eye to the virtuous while aiding the ungodly in their sinful pursuits. Consequently, the weak may feel compelled to mimic the prosperity of the wicked, or, out of fear of the world's laws, refrain from overt wrongdoing, not out of love for righteousness, but from dread of human condemnation. Their thoughts run awry, leading them to believe that God disregards human actions, valuing both the righteous and unrighteous equally, or worse, that He punishes the good while favoring the wicked. Those who think this way, though they may do no harm to others, inflict grave harm upon themselves and invite their own ruin without affecting God’s essence.

The Psalm bears the title of David, written on the fourth day of the week. It serves as a lesson in enduring trials for the righteous, urging patience in the face of the prosperity of the wicked while fortifying perseverance throughout. The biblical reference points out the significance of the fourth day, which has varied names across cultures—an indication of humanity’s different interpretations of time. However, within the Christian context, the fourth day symbolizes the creation of heavenly lights: “God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.” Genesis 1:14-19. This raises the question of why such a title was assigned to a Psalm focused on the trials faced by the just. The Apostle Paul encourages us to do all things without grumbling or arguing, that we may be blameless and pure, shining as lights in the world, as stated in Philippians 2:14-16.

Now, let us delve into the Psalm. "The Lord is a God of vengeance; a God of vengeance is He." Psalm 93:1. Do you think He remains indifferent to wrongdoing? Indeed, the God of vengeance delivers judgment. What does it signify that God is vengeful? It indicates He is a God of discipline. You may grieve over the seeming lack of punishment for the wicked; however, do not fall into despair lest you find yourself facing judgment. Observe the thief who walks free, and you might grumble against God because he appears unscathed. Instead, consider correcting your own tongue before seeking to correct others. To realign your relationship with man, begin by aligning your heart with God’s; for when you desire the wrath of God to strike down the wicked, remember that this same wrath will also seek to correct you.

For He will surely come; He will judge those who persist in their evil, ungrateful for His merciful patience, accumulating wrath for themselves as the day of judgment approaches. Romans 2:4-6 teaches us that God rewards each individual according to their deeds—because the Lord is indeed a God of vengeance, He acts with assuredness. Our Savior is our refuge; in Him, the hopes of the needy are anchored. He declares, "I will act confidently in Him," meaning He will not shy away from confronting sin. Much like a physician wielding a healing scalpel, He meticulously tends to our wounds. And as prophesied, He manifested with authority: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" He spoke with fearlessness, for He embodies vengeance. Thus, He spared no words, hoping that those spared from judgment might be healed by His proclamation.

Why? The Scripture asserts, “The Lord is a God of vengeance; the God of vengeance will not hold back.” He who does not spare words in this life will certainly not spare during judgment. Those who have faced Him in humility will find Him fearless in glory. Contemplating His earlier assuredness, imagine the certainty of His actions on the last day. Do not despair over the seeming impunity of the wicked but remain steadfast, for He may allow temporary discipline in your life to prevent future condemnation.

And what followed His assured actions? “Be exalted, O Judge of the earth.” Psalm 92:2. When they confined Him in His humility, do you think they will confine Him in His exaltation? When they judged Him in His mortality, will He not judge them in immortality? He proclaims, "Be exalted, O Judge of the world, for your confidence in His word the wicked could not bear. They mistakenly believed they glorified themselves by seizing and crucifying You. Those destined to seize You in faith instead seized You in persecution.” In facing adversity, He acted confidently, showing no fear because He endured suffering; thus, He rises again and ascends to glory.

“Be exalted, O Judge of the earth, and repay the proud according to their deeds.” Those who boast in their meager evils, yet still protect their sins, will receive due recompense. For even as some who crucified Christ found healing through repentance, their vile actions became a source of redemption in Him. The blood they shed washed them clean, granting them a place in His body, the Church, transforming their sins into substance for eternal life.

“Lord, how long shall the wicked triumph?” Psalm 92:3. The wicked boast and spread their malevolence, crying out, "What good comes from our living righteously?" They seem untroubled, thinking God overlooks their deeds. “If only the officers could witness their actions,” they muse, “they’d face immediate arrest.” Yet, they forget that God sees beyond the exterior; for He observes both the public and the innermost recesses of the heart. Even as they attempt to conceal their iniquities, they unknowingly acknowledge God’s omniscience, claiming “It pleases God,” all while remaining blissfully unaware of the punishment that lies ahead.

Righteous individuals implore, “Do not commit iniquity, for therein lies death.” Those who observe unrighteous individuals literally escaping punishment wonder why they face hardships. This seeming contradiction leads them to rationalize their own wrongs, questioning why, if they’ve angered God, they are not swiftly punished while judgment falls upon the righteous. The reasoning often given suggests they mistakenly believe that God’s forbearance equals approval, as reflected in the Apostle’s words:

"And do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:5-6. While He extends His mercy, they in turn increase their sins, believing that His grace is forever promised. Yet little do they see, their disdain and unrepentance shall not hide them from His coming judgment.

Yet amid their plights, the righteous declare: “They have oppressed Your people, O Lord, and troubled Your heritage.” Psalm 92:5. They have harmed the vulnerable and defenseless. Psalm 92:6. Each statement affirming the evil of the wicked bears weight and requires no prolonged dissection.

“They say, 'The Lord doesn’t see; the God of Jacob is unconcerned.’” Psalm 93:7. How vain this proclamation! They claim their actions remain unnoticed and unpunished. “You thought I remained silent while you rejoiced in your evil; you were mistaken to believe that your wickedness went unnoticed.” Their error was twofold: first, they miscalculating their perception of God's view, believing His silence was tacit approval for their misdeeds; second, they surrendered to the falsehoods of their own hearts, pondering whether God truly cares about the specifics of their sinful lives.

Wretched man! He who gave you existence is also concerned about your moral conduct. Still, they insist, “The Lord will not see," neglecting His omniscience.

"Fools among men, be wise; discern your condition!" Psalm 92:8. This Psalm addresses those swayed by the seeming success of the wicked, leading to envy and imitation. Be assured that patient endurance in righteousness will yield reward in due time; for every laborer desires the fruit of their work. The vineyard awaits completion; do not demand a reward before your labors are concluded.

So practice patience; for if you waver, you risk not only your reward but potentially retribution for treachery. Examine the thoughts reflected on the power of the wicked and be aware of how easily one can be led astray. Yet do not merely make claims of steadfastness when weakness tugs at your spirits. Enlist the help of the Lord in your times of need.

“Lord, if You had not come to my aid, I would have slipped into despair.” Psalm 93:17. When thoughts of sin beckoned, He upheld me, reminding us of His mercy. In our vulnerability, He remains steadfast as our foundation.

“Thy mercy, O Lord, sustained me.” Psalm 92:18. God cherishes humble confessions; instead of magnifying your steadfastness during stumble, seek to acknowledge your slips, confiding in Him.

Our trials offer insight into our journey, reminding us of His gracious presence, particularly in anguish. In the midst of our tribulations, we remember the comfort we find in Him.

“Is it possible that You commune with iniquity?” Psalm 93:20. No, the evil shall not share in Your presence, nor can they claim the light of Your righteousness.

A time is coming when God will begin His judgment in His household; those who once believed themselves secure will face His discipline. How then shall the wicked stand in the light? Thus, the Lord afflicts His faithful to teach them, refining them through hardship that they might grow in faith and righteousness.

In all things, He molds us, helping us become vessels of light, assuring us that although we face trials now, He walks alongside us through every moment. Let us not grow weary of our labor; for He has promised eternal life to those who endure.

"Ashes," states the psalmist, "I have eaten as bread and dissolved my drink with weeping" (Psalm 101:10).

Consider this: "Thou who judgest righteousness, canst thou, who judgest righteousness, neighbor unrighteousness?" "He that setteth labour by command?" In God's commands, there is sorrow for repentance, and this sorrow is indeed beneficial, bringing relief to the penitent. If, ultimately, we do not fulfill God's commands through toil and labor, no one is crowned amidst pleasures. "The voluptuous widow is dead alive" (1 Tim. 5:6). What the apostle indicates about one individual extends to all, for as the teacher of the entire Church, he showed concern not only for widows. Just because he did not name a virgin, monk, or churchman, does it mean they should indulge in pleasures without restraint? If the widow represents humanity, then the others, likewise, are human beings; they too may succumb to temptations through indulgence. Therefore, heed what is proclaimed, "He that hath labour according to the command." We are commanded to fast; we are instructed to practice temperance. We are told to turn the other cheek to the one who strikes us and to give our tunic and cloak to those who request them. These commandments cannot be fulfilled without effort. "For because of the words of thy mouth I have kept the ways of the hard" (Psalm 16:4). Thus, no one is crowned in pleasures. "For narrow is the way that leadeth unto life" (Matt. 7:14). Virtue cannot be realized without labor. With great effort, we ascend mountains, how much more to heaven? The Gospel proclaims, "The kingdom of heaven is taken by force" (Matthew 11:12). It is seized with fervor because, through grace, we receive what is beyond our nature. Just as angels descend from above, so do souls ascend. Then, will someone inquire, "How shall our bodies ascend into heaven?" If Christ reigns, we too shall reign with Him; what He possesses, He grants us after resurrection. If the first are to reign, the last shall also have authority. Why would the flesh that reigns in Christ not rule in those who believe in Him? When Christ appears, we shall also appear with Him in glory (see Col. 3:4). If flesh is honored by angels in heaven, why does it not reign in those who have received the royal calling? It is written, "And worship the footstool of His feet, for it is holy" (Ps. 98:5). Though some interpret "the footstool of His feet" as referring to the earth, in comparison to Divine majesty, the incarnation of the Savior is rightly described as the footstool due to its humble submission. Yet, it is esteemed because it belongs to Christ. Nothing is diminished from the Divinity; every representation in Christ does not add to Him but serves us. He manifests in glory to reveal to us the hope of future grace, He who reigns with Him, to whom belongs glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Theodoret explains that You will not permit collaboration in injustice with unrighteous rulers, who, by issuing judgments that oppose Your decrees, ultimately bring upon themselves the disaster that results. He refers to these unjust judges as the seat of wickedness and iniquity, who harvest the consequences of their corruption—suffering and affliction. Isidore adds that anyone wishing to act faithfully according to God's directives must also heed this warning: let not the influence of the adversary rest within your heart. These words may serve as a concluding petition for those diligently striving in their faith and who speak with resolve: let not the seat of lawlessness be lifted up before You, O Lord, causing us to suffer in violation of Your commandments. Gregory of Nyssa suggests that the Psalmist may be contemplating something profound in these words, teaching through the phrase, ‘Let not the seat of wickedness be with You,’ that this malevolence is not perpetually present, indicating that the evil ruler will not appear alongside You. For the ruler—the seat—is the originator of sin through his decree. Furthermore, by asserting that evil is not eternal, He demonstrates that it will not endure indefinitely; for what has not always existed cannot remain forever. They build up toil in relation to the command. The seat, he states, of wickedness, represented by the devil, constructs difficulties in our minds with that intent, attempting to prevent us from carrying out the commandments we have pledged to uphold; he reminds us of the burdens we must face due to this commandment, leading, as Eusebius notes, to the temptation of relinquishing it as excessively hard and wearisome. Consequently, David elucidates why he prays that the adversary, who accuses and maligns humanity, may not stand trial.

The devil will not appear before God at the time of judgment; angels will present themselves before Him, but the devil will not be able to stand, for although he exists, he has forfeited his honor. Why is this the case? Because God judges as one who despises humanity, and the devil embodies the ultimate hatred toward mankind, as demonstrated by the words that describe him and his confederates.

In the subsequent section, he elaborates on this idea, indicating that those who construct unrighteousness instead of righteousness and disrupt the divinely established order are alien to God. With these remarks, he admonishes corrupt judges, who, through various acts of violence, falsely claim to uphold their responsibilities. Deceitful judges, in their quest to maintain the noble title of honest individuals, employ diverse tactics to obscure their wicked actions. From this, we discern the prophet's ultimate aim: he highlights that while the title of the throne is one of honor, when it is debased by human iniquity, it loses its dignity before God, who cannot abide wickedness.

He also highlights the kindness and compassion of God toward those who suffer injustice and the assistance granted from on high to those who seek it. The midweek Sabbath, or Wednesday, represents the day when Judas betrayed the Savior and the Jewish leaders conspired against Him. From this point onward, He began to face the impending judgment of death and intervened to deliver us from the grip of the devil. Wednesdays, when the plot against God unfolded, and Fridays, when the Righteous One was condemned and raised upon the cross, are observed by Christians as solemn days of fasting and reflection, showing compassion for Him who endured suffering for our sake.

Clearly, the sacred author refers to an unchaste wife, who, having abandoned the fear of God, indulges in various forms of wickedness without restraint.

But what does this denote in the context of the Holy Prophet's words? The prophet’s message brims with profound and edifying insights. Picture St. David reaching out to the Gentile nations; he perceives that wickedness reigns and dominates everywhere. While some regions harbor devout followers of the One True God, the prevailing iniquity imposes a heavy weight on God's commandments, complicating their fulfillment. This reality has been illustrated throughout Church History, in both Jewish and Christian contexts. For instance, during the Israelites’ oppression in Egypt, the iniquity personified by the cruel Pharaohs obstructed the Israelites' worship of the true God. In later periods, they threatened God's worshippers with fire, as seen in the days of Daniel, or mounted widespread persecutions, as in the reigns of the Syrian kings. This pattern of struggle was evident in the Christian Church, often more so than in the Jewish one.

Consider the era when sainthood in the form of Constantine the Great ascended the throne. It was marked by extreme sufferings, rivers of blood, and relentless persecution against the Church. This undeniable truth, well-documented in the Church’s overall experience, often manifests in the dynamics of families and smaller communities. Imagine a godless, immoral household head! It’s rare to find members of such a household who genuinely uphold the Church's ideals and practice virtue. Some, lured by his corrupt example, lead lives of indulgence; others, burdened by labor, struggle to fulfill their spiritual commitments. Is this not indicative of the throne of iniquity? Does it not operate free of accountability, fostering difficulties in observing God’s commands?

Alternatively, envision any governing leader who possesses complete authority within their community but is committed to unrighteousness. You will observe that their influence complicates adherence to Christ's teachings. It often occurs that a wife may wish to engage in acts of charity and aid the needy, but her self-serving husband obstructs her, chastising and threatening her. Why do employees in many businesses neglect the observance of the Sabbath and fail to pray? Is it not oftentimes due to their employers burdening them with labor for the sake of profit? Why do many seemingly well-cultured individuals find it so challenging to adhere to church regulations and divine commandments in their later years? Why do they struggle to confess their sins openly and sincerely? Why do they approach fasting with reluctance, even finding the briefest and least rigorous fast burdensome? Why is there such hesitance to participate in the vigil of the Holy Orthodox Church? These challenges often stem from having been raised in homes where the head was not Orthodox, where unorthodox leadership prevailed, and where they encountered few Orthodox priests. As they mature, they recognize that the peace they seek lies within the embrace of Orthodoxy; yet, influenced by the perspectives they absorbed during their upbringing, they find themselves distanced from this guiding shore. The journey back requires immense effort, perseverance, and courage.

Ultimately, every individual harbors their own throne. The Holy Fathers have referred to this as the governing aspect of humanity. From this throne, the guiding principles of life are articulated. The spirit of the present age is often at odds with this truth. St. Paul exhorts us: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). Within the confines of our souls, there exists the sovereign spirit, the essence of truth and holiness. When the Holy Spirit dwells within our governing essence, peace, truth, and joy preside, rendering the fulfillment of God’s commandments effortless. However, if the spirit of the age has established its rule and controls our thoughts, then the throne of iniquity is firmly seated, making adherence to God’s commands arduous. Thus, David implores, “Let not all iniquity possess me.”

With the dominance of iniquity over our hearts and minds, God’s commandments often appear insurmountably difficult. Is it not true that the commandment of charity feels challenging for the greedy? Is it not hard for the self-absorbed to honor the virtues of others? Do the disobedient and prideful not find even the lightest burden of command to be significant? Consider how difficult temperance is for the habitual drunkard. Does not purity seem unattainable to those accustomed to indulgence? Indeed, the acts we perform with eagerness when inspired by love become overwhelming when done through mere obligation and without zeal. Let us remain vigilant to ensure we do not surrender the most significant part of our being to the turbulent spirit that influences the current age. Instead, let us earnestly seek the holy and serene Kingdom of God to take root within us, allowing faith to flourish in our minds and love to guide our hearts. In such a state, we will not perceive great burdens in obeying God's commandments but will experience the truth of Christ’s words: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Amen.