Psalms 94:22

Psa 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God [is] the rock of my refuge.

Ver. 22. But the Lord is my defence] Heb. my high place, where I am set out of their reach.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

22. (Psa 94:22) And (yet) Jehovah has been to me for a high place, and my God for the rock of my refuge. Our idiom would require but at the beginning of this sentence. The verb to be followed by for, is sometimes used in He brew to express the meaning of our verb become, which may here be considered as at least included. A high place, beyond the reach of danger. My rock of refuge, the rock where I take refuge from my enemies. See above, on Psa 9:9; Psa 18:2; Psa 46:7; Psa 46:11; Psa 48:3; Psa 49:9; Psa 49:17.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 22. The rock of my refuge.] Alluding to those natural fortifications among rocks, which are frequent in the land of Judea.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

22 But Jehovah has been my fortress The Psalmist declares, that great as were the extremities to which he had been reduced, he had found sufficient help in the single protection of God; thus passing a new commendation upon his power, which had been such as alone, and unaided, to put down the mightiest endeavors — all the force and the fury of his numerous enemies. He does more than say that God was a fortress, where he might hide with safety, and from the top of which he could bid defiance to every assault. Having congratulated himself upon the divine protection, he proceeds to denounce destruction upon his enemies; for it is to be considered as God’s special prerogative to make the evil which his enemies devise against his people recoil upon their own heads. The mere defeating, and frustrating their attempts, would afford no inconsiderable display of divine justice; but the judgment of God is far more marvellously manifested when they fall into the pit which they themselves had prepared, when all the subtle plans which they have adopted for ruining the innocent end in their being destroyed by their own craftiness, and when having done their utmost, they fall by their own sword. We are slow to believe that this shall be the issue, and accordingly it is said twice — he shall cut them off — the Lord our God shall cut them off It may be noticed also, that the Psalmist in using the expression our God, holds out a ground of encouragement to the faithful, reminding us of what he had said above, that God will not forget his own inheritance, even his people whom he has brought unto the faith of himself.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

22, 23. The R.V. renders, But the Lord hath been my high tower … and he hath brought upon them their own iniquity. But the latter clauses of Psa_94:23 shew that the punishment of the wicked is still in the future, and it is best to regard the tenses as expressive of certainty: But Jehovah will surely prove a high tower for me, and my God shall be the rock of my refuge. Cp. Psa_18:2; Psa_9:9, &c.

and he shall bring upon them &c.] Cause their wrong-doing to recoil upon their own heads. Cp. Psa_94:2; Psa_54:5.

in their own wickedness] Or, for their evil: or perhaps, through their own evil. Cp. Psa_5:10; Psa_7:15-16; Psa_9:16.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But the Lord is my defence,.... The defence of his church and people, of all the righteous, against those great armies of their enemies that gather together against them: the Targum, in the king's Bible is,

"the Word of the Lord shall be my weapon:''

and my God is the rock of my refuge; to whom recourse is had for shelter from the enemy, and against which the gates of hell cannot prevail: both characters, rock and refuge, agree with Christ, the essential Word of the Lord.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

But the Lord is my defense ... - In all these purposes of the wicked; in all that they do - whether under the form and sanction of law Psa 94:20, or by the excitement of passion - my trust is still in God. He is able to interpose in either case, and I may confidently commit my cause to him. On the language used here, as well as the sentiment, see the notes at Psa 18:2.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 22. Let the wicked gather as they may, the psalmist is not afraid, but sweetly sings,

The Lord is my defence, and my God is the rock of my refuge. Firm as a rock is Jehovah's love, and there do we betake ourselves for shelter. In him, even in him alone, we find safety, let the world rage as it may; we ask not aid from man, but are content to flee into the bosom of omnipotence.

Psalms 94:23*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

But the Lord is my Defence; and my God is the Rock of my refuge. (comp. Psa_18:2)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Yahweh has been my high tower

Here "tower" is a metaphor for protection. AT: "Yahweh has protected me from my enemies" (See: Metaphor)

God has been the rock of my refuge

The psalmist speaks of having God protect him as if God were a place where the psalmist could go to be safe. See how "rock" and "refuge" are translated in Psalms 62:7. AT: "I have asked God to protect me, and he has kept me safe by his power" (See: Metaphor)

will bring on them their own iniquity

Possible meanings are 1) "will do to them the evil things they have done to others" or 2) "will punish them for all the evil things he has done to others."

cut them off

This is an idiom which means "kill them." (See: Idiom)

in their own wickedness

Possible meanings are 1) "while they are doing wicked things" or 2) "because they have done wicked things."

translationWords

Yahweh

watchtower

God

refuge

iniquity

cut off

evil

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.