Psalms 94:7
and they say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The real kicker here is that when the wicked say, "The LORD does not see," they specifically mention "the God of Jacob." This is a name Israelite believers used to describe God’s intimate, personal relationship with them, so the enemies are essentially mocking God’s covenant promises and His care for His own people. It's not just that they think God is blind, but that He is blind and indifferent to them.
In Psalm 94, the psalmist is crying out to God amidst widespread injustice and oppression, seeing the wicked prosper and seemingly get away with their evil deeds. This verse captures the arrogant taunt of these wicked individuals who, blinded by their own power and cruelty, mockingly declare that God is either unaware or indifferent to their actions, believing their wickedness is hidden from His sight. The subsequent verses will directly challenge this audacious claim by reminding them of God's perfect knowledge and power.
Ever felt like your struggles are invisible to God? You're not alone. This verse reveals a dangerous thought pattern that ignores God's awareness.
The wicked in Psalm 94 declare, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive." This isn't just a casual observation; it's a deliberate rejection of God's watchful presence.
Deliberate Blindness
When people act wickedly, they often choose to believe God is unaware. It's not that they've proven God can't see, but rather they choose to ignore the possibility. They act "as if they never expected to be called to account for their conduct."
Ignoring His Nature
This denial challenges God's very character and power. If God created our eyes to see and ears to hear, how could the Creator Himself be blind or deaf? This statement is a profound insult to His nature.
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The psalmist doesn't just refer to 'God,' but specifically 'the God of Jacob.' Why is this personal touch significant, especially to those who are ignoring Him?
The phrase 'the God of Jacob' is more than just a title; it's a reminder of a covenantal relationship and God's particular care for His people.
A Relational God
Jacob, the patriarch, had a deep, though often flawed, relationship with God. When the psalmist uses this name, he's invoking the God who wrestled with Jacob, who made promises to him, and who guided his descendants. It points to a God who is not distant or impersonal, but involved in the lives of His chosen.
For 'Us,' Not 'Them'
This specific name was meaningful to the Israelites. While foreign enemies might acknowledge other gods, calling God 'the God of Jacob' highlighted a unique, chosen relationship that the enemies either didn't understand or deliberately dismissed. The wicked's dismissal implies they see God as just another local deity, unaware or uncaring about Jacob's descendants.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God (YHWH), revealed to Israel, signifying His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithful presence with His people.
The taunt that 'the LORD does not see' wasn't just abstract disbelief; it echoed the real-world pressure of powerful empires like Assyria and Babylon, whose arrogance and military might seemed to mock the impotence of Israel's God in the eyes of the world. This verse captures the desperate cry of a people facing oppression, questioning if their God truly saw their suffering or cared.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire's Imperial Might
The Assyrian Empire exerted vast influence, often demanding tribute and asserting the superiority of their own gods. This created an environment where conquered peoples might doubt the power or awareness of their local deities.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah, and his officials taunted King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem, mocking their faith in the Lord. This event, detailed in 2 Kings 18-19, directly challenged the people's trust in God's ability to see or act.
605 BC - 539 BC
Babylonian Exile
Following multiple deportations, Jerusalem fell and many Judeans were taken captive to Babylon. During this period of displacement and hardship, the sense of God's absence or inaction was a profound struggle for the exiles.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment of Psalm 94:7, stating 'They say in their heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see.”' It highlights the wicked's false belief that God is unaware of their actions.
Isaiah 36:18-20The Assyrian commander Rabshakeh taunted King Hezekiah by belittling the God of Israel, saying, 'Who among the gods of the lands delivered their land from the hand of Assyria? ... Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD by saying, “The LORD will surely deliver us”... Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?' This reflects the same arrogant dismissal of God's power and notice, viewing Him as just another local deity.
Job 21:7-15Job's friends struggle with why the wicked prosper, but Job questions their assumption that God is actively watching and intervening. The wicked in Job's dialogue ask, 'Why must we fast, if he does not see? If we humble ourselves, why must he not regard it?' This shows the ancient wrestling with God's perceived inaction and the wicked's interpretation of it as God's ignorance or indifference.
Calvin argues that when the wicked say 'God shall not see,' they are not necessarily articulating a philosophical denial of God's omniscience, but rather acting with such reckless abandon that they effectively live as if God is blind and will not hold them accountable.
Paul explains that God's 'eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been created. So they are without excuse.' This passage speaks to the reality that God is knowable, and the wicked's claim that 'the LORD does not see' is a willful suppression of truth, not an accurate assessment of reality.
pulpitPsalms 94:7: "Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it."
Verse 7. - Yet they say, The Lord shall not see (comp. Psalm 10:11, 13). Foreign enemies did not suppose that Jehovah would not see, but trusted that their own gods were stronger than he, and would protect them (2 Kings 18:33-35). Neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. "The God of Jacob" would not be a natural expression in the mouth of Israel's foreign foes. They knew nothing of Jacob. But it was…
clarkePsalms 94:7: "Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it."
The Lord shall not see - This was either the language of infidelity or insult. Indeed, what could the Babylonians know of the true God? They might consider him as the God of a district or province, who knew nothing and did nothing out of his own territories.
The real kicker here is that when the wicked say, "The LORD does not see," they specifically mention "the God of Jacob." This is a name Israelite believers used to describe God’s intimate, personal relationship with them, so the enemies are essentially mocking God’s covenant promises and His care for His own people. It's not just that they think God is blind, but that He is blind and indifferent to them.
In Psalm 94, the psalmist is crying out to God amidst widespread injustice and oppression, seeing the wicked prosper and seemingly get away with their evil deeds. This verse captures the arrogant taunt of these wicked individuals who, blinded by their own power and cruelty, mockingly declare that God is either unaware or indifferent to their actions, believing their wickedness is hidden from His sight. The subsequent verses will directly challenge this audacious claim by reminding them of God's perfect knowledge and power.
In Psalm 94, the psalmist is crying out to God amidst widespread injustice and oppression, seeing the wicked prosper and seemingly get away with their evil deeds. This verse captures the arrogant taunt of these wicked individuals who, blinded by their own power and cruelty, mockingly declare that God is either unaware or indifferent to their actions, believing their wickedness is hidden from His sight. The subsequent verses will directly challenge this audacious claim by reminding them of God's perfect knowledge and power.
"and they say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”" — The real kicker here is that when the wicked say, "The LORD does not see," they specifically mention "the God of Jacob." This is a name Israelite believers used to describe God’s intimate, personal r…
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