Psalms 82:3,4

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

The magistrate’s duty

This counsel of God, saith Luther, is worthy to be written in letters of gold on the walls of all judicatories. It may fitly be termed God’s charge to magistrates. As if the Lord had said, This is your main business, and therefore let it be your great care, to defend the poor, succour the afflicted, and support the fatherless, and to help him who hath no helper. As the proper work of the physician is to cure the sick, and of a minister to comfort the weak, so of a magistrate to defend the poor, and vindicate the oppressed from the violence of the oppressor.

1. Magistrates must be a defence to the poor and fatherless, to the afflicted and the needy. They are that great tree which must shelter such as are under them from storms (Daniel 4:20).

2. As magistrates must administer justice unto all, so especially to the afflicted and distressed. These are most liable for injury; and therefore, if justice incline to any side with favour, it should be towards the poor. This is the very end why rulers are set up, viz., to execute judgment, and do justice amongst the people (Isaiah 56:1; Hosea 12:6; Amos 5:24; Zechariah 7:9). Do justice--

(1) Discreetly;

(2) Speedily;

(3) Impartially and universally;

(4) Resolutely and courageously;

(5) Righteously and exactly;

(6) Soberly;

(7) Diligently.

3. Good duties need much pressing. Such is the dulness and indisposition of our natures to the best things, that without much pressing they take little or no impression upon us; hence it is that the Lord here calls on judges again and again to defend the poor and fatherless, and to deliver the needy out of trouble.

4. Magistrates must administer justice orderly. They must not go preposterously to work, and condemn a man before he is heard.

(1) They must fully, freely, patiently, with a sedate, quiet, composed spirit, free from passion, prejudice, and precipitancy, hear both parties speak for themselves, for the law doth not use to condemn men till their cause be heard (John 7:51; Acts 25:15).

(2) When, upon hearing, he hath found out the depth and truth of the cause, then he must justify and absolve the innocent, and rescue him out of the jaws of the wicked, by executing justice on him according to his demerits. (T. Hall, B. D.)