INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 94, Jeremiah 39, 2 Kings 25. 2 Chronicles 36; Daniel 1
Although we are not certain of the writer of this Psalm, it seems to be in the style of David. According to the Jewish Mishah, "it was to be sung by the Levites in the Temple, every Wednesday." It was written in Hebrew for the Jewish people, and they were calling on their Lord - Yaweh, Jehovah - "to punish and judge their wicked leaders". It may have been written during the time of the Babylonian attacks and exile, for the Jews were surrounded by leaders who did not obey God.
It is easy to "grow weary and discouraged" when people around you, especially your leaders, do not follow God and they do not live righteously. But many of the Israelites, like David, remembered that because they were God's children, that He would care and protect them. Their "spirits were lifted up", as, the writer reminds us that when "they agreed to love and obey their Lord", he promised to "BE A SHELTER FOR HIS CHILDREN".
"But the Lord is MY STRONG PLACE, my God is MY ROCK, where I can hide and BE SAFE."
Psalm 94:22 (EET)
VENGEANCE FOR BAD LEADERS - Read Psalm 94:1-7
In these first verses of Psalm 94, the writer is complaining about the wicked leaders, both in Jerusalem and in Babylon; where some of the Jews, at this stage, had been exiled. They were particularly concerned that God wasn't doing anything about them.
"The fall of Jerusalem in 586BC meant three important parts of Israel's life: THEIR TEMPLE, THEIR LAND AND THEIR MONARCHY." C Hassell Bullock
1. NEBUCHADNEZZAR - THE BABYLONIAN LEADER - Jeremiah 39:1-3, 8-10, 52:13-16; 2 Kings 25:9-12; Daniel 1:3-20
NEBUCHADNEZZAR and his Babylonian army captured Jerusalem in 588BC, after 18months of endeavouring to break down their walls. He then seized their land and it's temple, in which Jeremiah had predicted.
"This is what the Lord God of Israel says: "I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who were outside your walls besieged you. And I will gather them inside the city. I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath."
Jeremiah 21:4-5 (NIV)
"So in the 9th year of Zedekiah's reign, on the 10th day of the 10th month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. The city was kept under siege until the 11th year of Zedekiah."
2 Kings 25:1-2 (NIV)
As well as taking away the kings of Judah and murdering many people, he also exiled the youngest and wisest of the their people to a foreign land, Babylon. He expected them to worship his idols and serve him. The poor people who were left in Jerusalem were to look after "his" fields and vineyards, as this were in "Nebuchadezzar's interests", for he wanted them to see that he still had power, both in Jerusalem and Babylon.
The people who stayed in Jerusalem thought they were safe, for at least they had their Temple, and could worship their God. But Nebuchadnezzar, took all the Holy things and replaced them with false gods. Later the Chaldeans burned the Royal Palace and the Temple and more people were exiled, except the poorest of the poorest.
2. JEHOAKIM - 8th KING OF JUDAH - 2 Kings 23:36-24:5; 2 Chronicles 36:5-8; Daniel 1:1&2
"In the 3rd year of the reign of Jehoakim King of Judah, Nevuchadnezzar, king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoakim, king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of his god in Babylon and put them in the treasure house of his god." Daniel 1:1-2 (NIV)
JEHOAKIM was one of the kings of Judah that Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon. He was 25years when he became king, and 3 years into his reign, he was overwhelmed by Nebuchadnezzar's siege.
As the son of Josiah he had a godly father, and it would have been great if his legacy had been passed on to his son. Instead, Jehoakim made a choice, and he followed that of his great-grandfather - "he followed an evil path". HE WAS WEAK and EASILY LED by the Babylonian leaders. Why? Some would say it was God's vengeance for his evil ways.
"And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his predecessors had done." 2 Kings 23:37 (NIV
"Instead, he dug in his heals and subbornly persisted in his evil ways." Jenny Fulton
3. JEOACHIN - SON OF JEHOAKIM - 2 Kings 24:8-15; 2 Chronicles 39:9&10
Like his father, JEOACHIN was under Nebuchadnezzar's reign and was taken to Babylon. He was 18years old when he became king of Judah, and following in his father's ways, he too had done evil, not following the ways of the Lord.
His mother's name was Nehusta, and she, along with her son and his attendents, went in exile to Babylon. Jeohichins nobles and officials all surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, as his prisoners.
"Jehoachin was 18 years when he became king, and he reigned 3months and 10 days. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. In the Spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the Temple of the Lord. He made his uncle Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem." 2 Chronicles 36:9-10 (NIV)
4. ZEDEKIAH - THE LAST OF THE DAVIDIC LINE - Jeremiah 39:4-7, 11-18, 52:1-11; 2 Kings 24:26-25:5; 2 Chronicles 36:11-14
"Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem 11years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord." 2 Chronicles 36:11&12 (NIV)
When ZEDEKIAH saw the invaders come into his city, HE RAN, leaving Jerusalem. When it came to following the Lord he was "neither hot nor cold", - showing faithlessness to both God and his people, the Israelites. He did not show a lot of courage when leading his people and was later caught by the Chaldean soldiers and taken to Nebuchadnezzar.
Nebuchadnezzar had already "taken" Zedekiah's sons and "in front of their father, he had them killed."
This was the last thing Zedekiah saw for he was then blinded and taken, chained to Babylon. Truly, this last king of David's line was a "pathetic sight" for his people to see.
"Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon, where he was put in prison till the day of his death." Jeremiah 52:11 (NIV)
It was during the time of Zedekiah that the Temple of the Lord was finally defiled and desecrated, and the priests and spiritual leaders became unfaithful to the Lord.
GOD SEES ALL THINGS - Read Psalm 94:8-11, Jeremiah 25
The Psalmist had 3 questions for the wicked leaders, to God's people, the Israelites who had fallen away and and maybe everyone of us today.
1. Can God hear us?
2. Can God see us?
3. Will God punish us?
God is an omniscient Father. He knows our thoughts and He teaches us right from wrong. So shouldn't the answer to each of these questions be "YES"!
"Does God that made the ear not ear? Does He that made the eyes not see? Will He that rules the world not punish? He teaches people what they know. The Lord knows people's thoughts. Their
thoughts are worth nothing. " Psalm 94:9-11 (EET)
We would be foolish if we didn't think about God when we acted in certain ways. Not because we are silly, but because it's simply not the wise thing to do. The oppressors of God's people didn't think that God would be noticing their conduct, and therefor they would not be punished. This is why they wouldn't listen to the prophets like Jeremiah and Uriah. And if God would "chastise the heathen", surely He would punish His own people.
"And though the Lord has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again. you have not listened or paid any attention. They said: "Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord to your ancestors forever and ever. Do not follow other gods and serve and worship them; do not arouse My anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you." "But you did not listen to me," declares the Lord, "and you aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves."
Jeremiah 25:4-7 (NIV)
WHEN RULERS ARE GOOD - Read Psalm 94:12-15
Some of the people in the land of Jerusalem and Babylon continued to love and serve the Lord, including some of their GOOD LEADERS.
Righteous people have good in their hearts. They are humble and they show forth the "fruits of the spirit" in their lives. Most of all, they want to BE OBEDIENT TO THE LORD. Here are some people who continued to love and serve the Lord, even when their nation was destroyed around them. GOD BLESSED THEM!
1. JEREMIAH - OTHER PROPHETS & SCRIBES - Jeremiah 39:11-14, 40:1-6
JEREMIAH stayed and cared for the people who had been left behind in Jerusalem. Many of these people had abused him and given him reason to despise them, but God had called him to continue in his ministry to them.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
The Lord our God should be our motivation to serve - both "the good, the bad and the ugly". Remember, we have been called to minister, not only to God's children, but also those in "the world who need us to be His witnesses".
"Now Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had givem these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, commander of the Imperial guard: "Take him and look after him; don't harm him and do for him whatever he asks......He sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedeliah, son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people." Jeremiah 39:11&12
2.GEDALIAH - GOVERNOR OF JUDAH - Jeremiah 40:7-41:2; 2 Kings 25:22-25
GEDALIAH was appointed Governor by the Babylonian authorities, but He was one of the GOOD LEADERS. He had a godly lineage - his father had defended Jeremiah, and his grandfather was involved with King Josiah's repentance. Jeremiah had been given into his care, as he was another favoured Jew - at least to some people.
Unfortunately, not everyone had been happy with his appointment as Governor. He was later killed by some of his own people.
"When all the army officers and their men heard that the King of Babylon had apppointed Gedaliah as Governor, they came to Ishmael at Mizpah.........In the 7th month. Ishmael, son of Nehemiah, son of Elisham, who was of royal blood, came with ten men and assassinated Gedaliah and also the men of Judah and Babylonia, who were with him at Mispah." 2 Kings 25:23&25
3.EBED-MELECH - A GOOD MAN OD GOD - Jeremiah 39:15-18
The Lord promised to deliver EBED-MELECH from the Babylonian soldiers. He was an Ethiopian soldier, a Gentile who had the concern and welfare of Jeremiah in his heart. He had delivered Jeremiah from Zedekiah's soldiers, and because he trusted in the Lord, he was blessed with an amazing story of SALVATION.
"But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord, and you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I WILL SAVE YOU; and you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because YOU TRUST IN ME, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 39:17&18
4. DANIEL - AND HIS FRIENDS - Daniel 1:3-20; 3:1-30; 6:1-28
We are introduced to Daniel and his friends, when they "refused to bow down" to Nicodemus' idols or "eat the royal foods" . Daniel and his friends were faithful, righteous, wise and pleasant young men, and God blessed them with special gifts to help serve King Nebuchadnezzar and later King Cyrus, "turning even foreign kings to the true God" .
God protected them as they stayed loyal to God. We know their stories: "Daniel in the Lion's Den", and
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the Blazing Furnace".
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him: "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, THE GOD WE SERVE IS ABLE TO DELIVER US from it, and HE WILL DELIVER US from your Majesty's hand. But even if He doesn't, we want you to know, Your Majesty, WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR GODS or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)
"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day HE GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND PRAYED, GIVING THANKS TO HIS GOD, just as he had done before." Daniel 6:10(NIV)
May we be comforted in the knowledge that as "one person walking in faith we can make a difference";
we too, ground and secure in God's presence, can do the same.
WHAT THE LORD DOES FOR HIS PEOPLE - Read Psalm 94:16-23
The writer of this Psalm could have been a king, a prophet or even a Temple leader - but whoever he was, we do know that he was in trouble. He may have felt like "he was falling" , but whatever the problem, we do know he was anxious and depressed. He needed to "feel confident in the Lord and happy again."
"When I think, I am falling down, Your special love keeps me safe Lord. When I have troubles in my mind, so that I am not afraid, you help me to be happy again." Psalm 94:18&19 (EET)
He knew that everything would be okay because God would keep his people safe. God promises to:
* Give us rest and never forsake us.
* Judge us righteously.
* Protect us from evildoers.
* Lift us up when we are falling.
* Inwardly comforts our souls.
*Chastises us and teaches us His Word (Law).
CONCLUSION
Whem "the bottom drops out of our lives" and circumstances engulf us with pain and confusion where do you turn? Do you have a shelter? Someone who listens and encourages you? Discouraged and hurting people need a "refuge" - someone who will care for them.
Maybe it will be found for you in the Lord, like David and the writer of this Psalm.
"The LORD IS MY ROCK, MY FORTRESS AND MY DELIVERER.
MY GOD IS MY ROCK IN WHOM I TAKE REFUGE.
MY SHIELD AND THE HORN OF MY SALVATION
HE IS MY STRONGHOLD, MY REFUGE, MY SAVIOUR -
FROM VIOLENT PEOPLE YOU SAVE ME.
I CALLED TO THE LORD WHO IS WORTHJY TO BE PRAISED
AND I AM SAVED FROM MY ENEMIES."
2 Samuel 22:2-4 (NIV)
"But the LORD IS MY STRONG PLACE and
MY GOD IS A ROCK WHERE I CAN HIDE AND BE SAFE." Psalm 94:22
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The Holy Bible, "New International Version", 2011, Biblica
"Easy Translation Bible", 2018, Biblica
"The Passion Translation", Psalms, Poetry on Fire, Dr Brian Simmons, 2012, Broadstreet
Alexander, Pat & David, "The Lion Handbook of the Bible", 2009, Lion Hudson.
Churchyard, Gordon. "Psalm 94 - God, Show Us You are a Great Judge.", 2002, www.easyemglish.com
Constable, Dr Thomas, "Jeremiah 39, 2 Kings 24&25- Bible Commentary, Expository Notes," StudyLight.org
Fulton, Jenny, "Who was Jehoakim and What Can We Learn From Him", 2021, iBelieve.com
