The God of Vengeance
He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge? Psalm 94:10 · Berean Standard Bible
If God disciplines and teaches entire nations, don't you think He knows what's going on? His wisdom and authority are beyond question.
The psalmist keeps building the case: God manages the whole world, corrects nations, instructs humanity. To suggest He doesn't know what's happening in your little corner of the earth is to deny everything Scripture teaches about who He is.
The psalmist, continuing to dismantle the foolish theology of the wicked.
This connects to the kingship psalms and the view of God as cosmic ruler. God's dominion over nations proves His omniscience—He couldn't rule what He doesn't know or see.
Continuing the rhetorical argument, the psalmist asserts that God, who disciplines nations and instructs humanity, cannot lack knowledge or moral understanding.
The three questions—'does He not discipline?' (הַיִּסֵּר לֹא, ha-yisser lo), 'does He not see?' and 'does He lack knowledge?' (הַיִּדַּע לֹא, ha-yida lo)—build progressively. 'He who admonishes the nations' (מוֹכִיחַ גּוֹיִם, mokiach goyim) refers to God's role as cosmic teacher through history and providence. The phrase 'lacks knowledge' (דַעַת יֵשׁ לֹא, da'at yesh lo) uses a characteristic Hebrew construction where the negative intensifies the contrast. The implication is that God's pedagogical action throughout history proves divine awareness.
The psalmist continues the wisdom argument, now invoking God's historical action as evidence of divine omniscience.
This connects to the prophetic understanding that God 'works through history'—Isaiah's vision of God directing Assyria and Babylon, or Paul's teaching in Acts 17:26 that God 'determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.'
8Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
9He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?
10He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?
11The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.
12Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,
Read all of Psalm 94 — How long will the wicked triumph? God hears every boast, sees every injustice. The one who made the ear — can He not hear?
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