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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2015 May 6



Silence (1799-1801)
John Henry Fuseli (1741-1825)
Romanticism Style; Sturm und Drang Movement
Kunsthaus Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Psalm 94 the Psalmist asks for God's just vengeance upon the wicked. The author and occasion are not mentioned. Today's painting, titled "Silence," is a condition into which the Psalmist almost slipped permanently -- i.e., the silence of death.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: WISDOM PSALMS. Psalm 1. Psalm 10. Psalm 12. Psalm 15. Psalm 19. Psalm 32. Psalm 34. Psalm 36. Psalm 37. Psalm 49. Psalm 50. Psalm 52. Psalm 53. Psalm 73. Psalm 78. Psalm 82. Psalm 91. Psalm 92. Psalm 94. Psalm 111. Psalm 112. Psalm 119. Psalm 127. Psalm 128. Psalm 133. Psalm 139. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 94 - #1. Psalm 94 - #2. Psalm 94 - #3. Psalm 94 - #4. Psalm 94 - #5. ]

     The Psalmist asks God to reveal himself in vengeance and justice against the proud who triumph in wickedness, speaking impudent things, and boasting (1-4). They break God's people in pieces. They slay the widow, the stranger, and the fatherless; and they think that God will not see it and will disregard it (5-7). The wicked are brutes and fools; and the Psalmist calls them to understand and be wise. He says that the LORD who formed the ear will hear; and he who formed the eye will see. He chastises the heathen; and he will also correct these persecutors of his people. He teaches man knowledge; and he knows that the thoughts of man are vanity (8-11). By contrast, the Psalmist notes that the man whom the LORD disciplines is blessed because he teaches him out of his law thereby giving him rest from the days of trouble while a pit is dug for the wicked (12-13). The LORD will not forsake his people, nor will he abandon his heritage. He will bring justice to those who are righteous and upright (14-15). The LORD (or perhaps the Psalmist, speaking as the leader of his people) asks who will rise up against the wicked and stand against the evildoers. The implicit answer is "The LORD" (16). Then, personalizing the matter, the Psalmist says that if the LORD had not been his helper his soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence (the grave). But, when he thought that his foot was slipping, the LORD held him up. The LORD consoled him when his cares were great (17-19). Then, addressing the LORD again, he asks, rhetorically, if wicked rulers who enact injustice into law can be allied with him. He notes that they band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent. But the LORD is his stronghold and his refuge. The LORD will cause the iniquity of the wicked to wipe them out (20-23).


THE PSALTER:

BOOK FOUR OF FIVE:

Psalms 90-106.


Psalm 94

1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.


* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]




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