Psalms 94:9

Psalms 94:9: "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?"

This verse sits within Psalm 94, a psalm of lament and confidence in God’s justice. The speaker confronts the oppressive power of evildoers and the seeming silence of God. Yet the psalm pivots on a pointed reminder of God’s intimate involvement in creation: the same One who formed the ear to hear and the eye to see is neither distant nor indifferent. In ancient Near Eastern thought, understanding someone’s ability to listen or perceive was tied to their authority and moral character. By appealing to God as the Creator who carefully formed human senses, the psalmist asserts that God is not only powerful but attentive to human plight. The rhetorical question (“shall he not hear?” / “shall he not see?”) presses readers to expect that God must care and act because His own handiwork guarantees perception and responsiveness. The verse thus bridges creation and justice: if God crafted our faculties, He will not be deaf to our cries or blind to our injustice. The psalmist often uses such appeals to move from lament to confidence in divine governance.

This verse anchors the trustworthiness of God’s justice. It asserts that God’s attentiveness is built into His creative act—He hears and sees because He has designed our very capacity to be heard and seen. Theologically, it opposes the idea that suffering and oppression silence God or excuse injustice. Instead, it affirms that God’s sovereignty includes a moral obligation to respond to human affliction. In the broader biblical narrative, this theme recurs: God listens to the afflicted, remembers His covenant, and acts. The verse also root-connects creation and ethics: if God formed our senses, He expects us to discern what is right and to pursue justice. It prepares readers for the ensuing assurance that God will eventually judge the wicked and vindicate the righteous. Practically, it shapes a view of prayer as a trustworthy channel to a God who perceives and responds.

When you feel unheard or unseen, this verse invites a reverent pause: God’s not distant. Re-center by naming what you fear and where you need justice. Like the psalmist, remind yourself that God created you with the capacity to cry out and to observe; He cares enough to listen. Practical steps:

- Keep a simple prayer journal: note what you’re asking God to hear, and observe how you see Him at work in daily life.

- Practice attentive listening: in conversations, assume others’ words matter; if a child, spouse, or coworker describes pain, respond as though God is listening.

- Notice small mercies: a friend checking in, an unexpected good outcome—recognize God’s “seeing” in ordinary moments.

- Advocate for others: if you see injustice, speak up, knowing God hears the cries of the afflicted.

This verse redirects despair into hopeful action, grounded in the Creator’s attentive design.

Cross-References: Genesis 1:26-27; Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 33:18-19; Psalm 78:39; Proverbs 15:3