(The study with Psalm 94 — including video, audio and notes — is available here)

In this 3-part study with Psalm 94, entitled “If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink”, we look at the way that god deals with our adversaries both within and without from the perspective of knowing that He is sovereign over all things, and working all things according to the counsel of His own will, the light and the darkness, the good and the evil (Eph 1:11 , Isa 45:7).

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

God is the one who causes us to err as scripture plainly declares (Isa 63:17), and vengeance belongs unto him on our marred vessel that He has made that way in His hand so that it can be renewed and redeemed as we’re formed into a precious vessel of honor that glorifies God through that process of change as we go from glory to glory (Jer 18:4 , 2Co 3:18). It is impossible to become this new creation without God’s spirit in us (Rom 8:9) and we must learn to give place unto wrath (Rom 12:19-20) and not despise or grow weary of His chastening which is the means that God uses to receive us and form the new life of Christ within us (Heb 12:6).

Isa 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

This Psalm has helped me see more clearly how the verses that read  “give place unto wrath” in (Rom 12:19) are connected to the thought that we are not to despise the chastening of the Lord (Pro 3:11), which is His vengeance on our old man of sin, the vessel of dishonor that He alone can form into a new vessel of honor to be used to His glory. When God heaps coals on us inwardly it is akin to having our hearts cleansed and our minds purged of wickedness which is how His workmanship is brought unto completion (Rom 12:21 , Isa 6:7 , Eph 2:10)

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 Isa 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.