Psalms 82:8

Verse Psalms 82:8. Arise, O God, judge the earth] Justice is perverted in the land: take the sceptre, and rule thyself.

For thou shalt inherit all nations.] Does not this last verse contain a prophecy of our Lord, the calling of the Gentiles, and the prevalence of Christianity over the earth? Thus several of the fathers have understood the passage. It is only by the universal spread of Christianity over the world, that the reign of righteousness and justice is to be established: and of whom can it be said that he shall inherit all nations, but of Jesus Christ?

ANALYSIS OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND PSALM

There are three parts in this Psalm: -

I. The prophet's proclamation, Psalms 82:1.

II. God's controversy with the judges of the land, Psalms 82:2.

III. The prophet's prayer that God would rise and judge, Psalms 82:8.

I. God's presence proclaimed in court. At an assize the judge sits in the midst of the justices: "God standeth in the congregation," c., Psalms 82:1.

II. 1. He reproves them, Psalms 82:2. 1. For their unjust judgment: "Ye judge unjustly." 2. For their obstinate continuance in it: "How long will ye," c. Ye have not done it once, but often. 3. For their partiality: "they accepted persons," Psalms 82:2.

2. He exhorts them to do their duty. 1. "Defend the poor and fatherless." Do right to every man. 2. "Deliver the poor and needy," Psalms 82:3.

3. He acquaints them with the events that shall follow where justice is not done: all is out of order and the judges are the cause of it.

1. Through ignorance: "They know not the law," Psalms 82:5.

2. Through obstinacy: "They will not learn it," Psalms 82:5.

3. Through their determination to walk in their own way, Psalms 82:5: "They walk on in darkness."

4. They shall in consequence be brought, 1. To an untimely death: "Ye shall die like men." 2. To a shameful death: "Ye shall fall like one of the princes," ye shall have a mighty fall, Psalms 82:7.

III. The prophet's prayer. Since judgment and justice have failed in the land, he says, 1. "Arise, O Lord! " He does not say, Arise, O people, and put down those unjust judges. No their function is from God, and God alone is to reform, or strip, or punish them. 2. "Judge the earth." Take the state of all people into thy consideration: there is much injustice in the earth. 3. For this petition he gives a reason: "For thou shalt inherit all nations," Psalms 82:8. Publish thy own laws, appoint thy own officers and let them in thy name dispense righteousness and true holiness throughout the world.