Psalm 94    

“pay attention.” The Hebrew verb means to “understand,” but in this context, the wicked think He does not understand because He does not care or pay attention.

“pointless.” See Ecclesiastes 1:2. The Hebrew word is the same. Human thoughts perish and do not make a lasting impact.

“law.” The Hebrew word is “Torah.” In this case, the “Torah” refers to the law and instructions given by God.

[For more on the meaning of “law,” Torah, see commentary on Proverbs 1:8.]

“dwelt in silence.” Psalm 94:17 refers to a person who is dead living in “silence.” They are dead and they are silent and in silence. Dead people are not alive in any form or in any place, they are dead, and so there is no activity or noise in the grave. Other verses speak of death being “silence” as well (cp. Ps. 115:17). If a person was alive in some form after they died, whether it was heaven, “Hell,” or some other place, there would be noise. But there is no noise in death because dead people are dead, lifeless, in every way.

[For more on dead people being dead and in Sheol, the state of being dead, see commentary on Rev. 20:13. For more on dead people being lifeless in every way, see Appendix 4, “The Dead are Dead.” For more on what the “soul” is, and that it does not live on after a person dies, see Appendix 7, “Usages of ‘Soul.’”]

“He will return their wickedness upon them.” It is a consistent theme through Scripture that evil people bring evil upon themselves (see commentary on Prov. 1:18).