Skip to content The Lord, Judge of All the Earth — A Meditation on Psalms 94–97 Aug 3 · 16 min ...more
The Lord, Judge of All the Earth — A Meditation on Psalms 94–97
August 3, 2026 · 16 min
God's sovereignty, the folly of denying the Creator, and the assurance of His justice.
Series Stand on the Word - Video On Demand Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Support this leader
Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Give
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
93.9K followers
Family Research Council is serving in the kingdom of God by championing faith, family, & freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
93.9K followers
Comments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
God's Justice Against the Wicked (Psalm 94) 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to the Oasis of Praise as our journey through the book of Psalms continues today. 4 fantastic Psalms. We're looking at Psalms 94 through 97, verse 9 of chapter0:22 97. For you, Lord, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods. Now before we jump into today's passage, I just wanna say thank you to those of you who0:34 have, sent us messages or posted things on the social media about how you're being blessed by this journey through the book of Psalms. And for those that are new to the journey that have just joined us in Psalms, I wanna0:46 encourage you to prayerfully consider staying with us. Next, we're gonna go into the books of wisdom. We're gonna be looking at Proverbs and Ecclesiastics, so I think you'll be blessed by that as well. So I0:57 wanna, again, thank you for, for just sharing. Many of you have emailed me at tony at tony perkins dot com just to share how god's word has been a blessing to you. It is the word of god that he1:09 says will not return unto him void. So be sure as you're on this journey and that if you're watching the videos each day, that's great. But most importantly, make sure1:21 you're reading each passage for each day. Very short reading, especially through the book of Psalms. Just 10 to 15 minutes a day of reading and you will be blessed by it. Alright. Let's1:33 begin. Psalm 94 is a lament about the wicked and their arrogance toward God and their cruelty toward others. Because if you deny God, you have no love or respect for God. You're not gonna1:45 respect your fellow man. But the Psalm ends with an expression of confidence in the justice of God. Verse 1. 0, Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs, oh, God, to whom vengeance1:57 belongs, shine forth. Rise up, oh, judge of the earth. Render punishment to the proud. Now notice the term judge of the earth. The deities or idols2:09 of that day, which were, as I've said before, just storefronts for demons and demonic principalities, they were not universal in in terms of the recognition of their authority. They2:20 were confined to a particular people or geographical region. They were, as Paul talks about in Ephesians 6, they were principalities, powers against rulers of darkness. This age is what we battle.2:32 Although Jehovah was the God of Israel, Yahweh was the God of Israel, his authority was not confined or limited to them. We see repeatedly,2:44 repeatedly he was recognized as the judge, the ruler, the king of all the earth. In fact, we'll see in Psalm 96 that that reality, that recognition of2:56 God as the authority, as the ruler, as the creator is a source of joy for his people. Verse 3, how long will the wicked how long will the wicked triumph? Now we've seen this question3:08 before. How long will the wicked prosper? Verses 4 through 6, the psalmist catalogs the cruel and the wicked practices of the evil ones and describes their arrogance. Look at verse 7. Yet they3:20 say the Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand. Then the psalmist disturbs their make believe world. Look at verse 8. Understand, you senseless among the3:31 people. And you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, shall he not hear? He who formed the eye, shall he not see? But what happens when3:43 you deny God as the creator? Paul actually writes about that in Romans chapter 1 verse 20, For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen. Look behind3:58 Being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse creation, the general revelation, leaves man without excuse that there is in fact a God, a4:10 creator. Because although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor were were thankful but became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened. You see, the the4:21 introduction of evolution into our schools and even into some of the churches was not accidental. It was by design. But but God4:33 will not be mocked. Verse 10, He who instructs the nations, shall he not correct? He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. The4:45 reality is God is sovereign. Now what we choose to think about God does not alter reality. Verse 12, blessed is the man whom you instruct, oh4:57 Lord, and teach out of your law, that you may give him rest from the days of adversity until the pit is dug for the wicked. Now don't miss this. Don't miss this. Living according to the5:08 instructions of the Lord provides relief from the iniquity and the evil of this world. How? When we understand that God5:20 is the creator, that he is the judge of all the earth, we then gain an eternal perspective because we know he is coming to reign and to rule and to judge the earth. What we5:32 see right now is not all that there is. In fact, what we see right now is rapidly passing. If God is eternal, and He is, then His government, the5:44 foundation of which is righteousness and justice, is eternal. His government is everlasting. And from his throne, he will5:56 dispense justice. Some of you may be able to relate to this. I remember when I was in, you know, in school years ago, when the teacher would step out of the room, chaos6:07 would, would break loose. And I know because sometimes I was facilitating, but we we thought we were getting away with it, but somehow the teacher knew. And when they walked back into the room, not only was order6:19 restored, but justice was dispensed. So justice and order are coming. Look at what the psalmist asks next as he laments the lawless and unjust6:31 conditions. Verse 16, Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? The answer, look at verse 17. Unless the lord had been my help, my soul6:43 would soon have settled in silence. If I say my foot slips, your mercy, oh Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, you your comfort delight6:55 my your comforts delight my soul. Verse 22, but the Lord has been my defense and my God and the rock of my refuge. He has brought on them their own iniquity and shall7:07 cut them off in their own wickedness. The Lord our God shall cut them off. Now Psalm 95 is not directly identified as a Psalm of David, but the7:18 author of Hebrews in chapters 3 and 4 quoting from Psalm 95 5, points to David as the author. Oh, come, let us sing to the Lord. Let us shout joyfully to the7:30 rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to him with Psalms. A call to worship. AndCreation Reveals God, Instruction Brings Rest 7:42 then we have the reason for worship. For the Lord is the great God and the great King above all the gods. Take note of this. We're going to see this7:53 repeatedly, how often the government of God and man are mentioned. Government is central. God is a God of order. And from government, and again, I I mentioned this a couple,8:05 a few days ago, The God in Government course that we have available talks about the 4 institutions of government, self government, family government, church government, and civil government. They all have their their8:17 realm of authority, and it is we see this throughout scripture. It is essential to God's order. And and by the way, if you'd like to know more about that course, just text course to 6 7 7 4 2. It's8:29 very, very insightful, going through the scripture and what it says about government, and then it also takes a look at our history as a nation. It's a great a great resource for this 250th8:41 anniversary. Alright. Verse 4, in his hands are the deep places of the earth, the heights of the hills are his also. And then verses 6 and 7, another call to worship. Oh, come. Let us worship and8:53 bow down. Let us kneel before the lord our maker, for he is our god, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand today if you will hear his voice. And then a warning againstWorship the Great King (Psalm 95) 9:05 following in their father's footsteps of rejecting God's direction. Verse 8, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, as in the day of the trial in the wilderness when your fathers tested me. They tried9:17 me though they saw my work. For 40 years I was grieved with that generation and said, It is a people who go astray in their hearts and they do not know my ways. So I swore in my9:28 wrath they shall not enter my rest. Now under the new covenant, we can stop short of entering the the rest of the lord through unbelief, through the abundant life,9:40 just as the children of Israel did. We must believe in god's promises, walk by his word, and surrender to his will. Alright. Psalm 96 is similar to 1st Chronicles9:52 chapters, chapter 16 verses 22 and 23 when the ark of the covenant was being brought back to Jerusalem. It is a messianic Psalm speaking of Jesus and his coming reign reign. Now10:04 the Psalm is divided into 3 stanzas. Verses 1 through 6 call the whole earth to praise the Lord because he is great, he is the creator. We see that10:16 theme over and over. Oh, sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name. Proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the10:28 nations, his wonders among all the peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols,10:40 but the Lord made the heavens. Now the word idols actually means nothings. They are nothing. There is 1 God, and the idols men have established10:52 for them selves are nothing. Verse 2, the 2nd stanza is, is made up of, of verses 7 through 10, a call to the nations to give god glory and11:04 worship him, for he is the 1 who created and sustains the earth, and he will he will judge the people. Verse 9. 0, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.11:15 Tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, the Lord reigns. The world also is firmly established. It shall not be moved. He shall judge the peoples11:27 righteously. Now the 3rd stanza is a a call to nurture or or call actually a call to the to nature to worship the lord.11:39 For he is coming to judge the earth in righteousness, which will be a relief to the earth, which is groaning under the burden of the sin of man.11:51 Verse 11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad. Let the sea roar in all its fullness. Let the field be joyful in all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will12:03 rejoice before the lord for he is coming for he is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with truth. Alright. Very12:15 quickly, Psalm 97. We're running out of time. But, Bill, I want to touch on this because it's another great Psalm. It is a hymn of God's kingship over the earth and a call for the earth to rejoice at12:27 the establishment of his kingdom. Again, We see government coming into scripture. And so I just submit this to you. If if the scripture speaks so much about government,Earth Rejoices: Creator King Judges Righteously 12:39 God's government, its influence upon man, should we not be concerned about government? I think the answer is yes. Verse 1, the lord reigns. Let the people12:51 rejoice. Let the multitude of isles be glad. The universal kingship of the lord is repeated in verses 5 and 9, verse 5. The mountains melt like wax at13:03 the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. Verse 9. For you, Lord, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods. Then and again13:15 in, in verse 6, again, we see creation reveals god's glory. I mean, again, you you cannot look at the mountains. You cannot look at the ocean. You can't look at really13:26 anything and not see the hand of the creator. The heavens declare his righteousness and all the people see his glory. Let all be put to shame who served carved13:38 images, who boast of idols. Worship him, all you gods. Those who worship the work of their own hands, idols, when they've seen the glory of13:50 God all around them will be put to shame. For you, Lord, verse 9, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted above all the gods. You who love the Lord hate evil. He preserves the souls of his14:02 saints. He delivers them out of the hands of the wicked. Verse 12, rejoice in the lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name. Father, we14:13 thank you for your word, and we thank you for your creation that speaks so clearly of your power and your authority. And, Lord, it just reveals the majestic14:25 nature of who you are. And so, Father, we worship you, and we pray, Lord, lord, that our voices would be added to that of your creation, of all of creation, the birds as they sing14:37 praises to you, as the trees, lord, bend in the wind, lord, giving praise to you. Lord, we praise you with our lips, with our whole heart. Lord, I pray that14:49 you would guide us, continue to lead us on this journey. Fill our hearts with gratitude, with praise for you. And, Lord, out of the abundance of your Holy Spirit15:01 in us, filling us, Lord, through your abiding in your word, that, Lord, we would share with others the hope that is within us. Use us this day to bring glory and15:13 honor to you, and strengthen those, Lord, on this journey. Lord, Lord, I lift up the hands of those who are weak. Strengthen those, Lord, who are struggling with the difficulties of those lives, asking the same questions15:24 as the psalmist, how long will the wicked prosper? Lord, be a defense for them today. Strengthen them and encourage them in you through your Holy Spirit and through your word. We15:36 pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning. Until next time, keep standing on the word.15:47 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan, available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you15:59 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 God's Justice Against the Wicked (Psalm 94)7:40 Creation Reveals God, Instruction Brings Rest9:00 Worship the Great King (Psalm 95)12:30 Earth Rejoices: Creator King Judges Righteously16:00 Prayer of Praise and Strength
Comments
Keep it kind. Comments are public.