John Calvin Commentary Psalms 94:21

"They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, And condemn the innocent blood." — Psalms 94:21 (ASV)

They will gather together against the soul of the righteous, as the Hebrew word גדד , gadad, or גוד , gud, means to gather forces or a band of men, the Psalmist clearly indicates that he was dealing with influential leaders, and not merely with people in private positions.

The term also implies that it was not just one or two private individuals who persecuted him and other people of the Lord, but a public assembly. Melancholy and disgraceful must the state of affairs have been when the wicked ruled in this way in lawful assembly, and those who formed the body of judges were no better than a gang of robbers.

The situation becomes doubly distressing when innocent victims of oppression are not only injured but are also stigmatized. And what more unseemly spectacle is there than when the entire judicial process is nothing but a foul conspiracy against good and innocent people?

The example recorded here should prepare us for a similar emergency, if it happens to occur in our own time, when the wicked may be permitted, in God's providence, to take the seat of judgment and bring destruction upon the upright and the righteous, under color of law. As intolerable as it might seem at first glance that people innocent of any crime should suffer cruel persecution, even from judges themselves, and be loaded with deep disgrace, we see that God tested His children in past times with this double kind of oppression. We must learn to bear with submission not only unrighteous violence but also charges most damaging to our character and entirely undeserved.