Psalms 82

Psalms 82:1-5

This pfalm is calculated for the meridian of present courts and courts of justice, not in Israel only, but in other nations. We have here, 1. The dignity of magistracy, and its dependence upon God, ver. 2. 2. The duty of magistrates, ver. 3, 4. 3. The degeneracy of bad magistrates, and the mislinky they do, ver. 2, 5. 4. Their doom read, ver. 6, 7. 5. The desire and prayer of all good people, that the kingdom of God may be set up more and more, ver. 8.

¶ A pfalm of Afaph. Or, sic.

1. O O D standeth in the congregation of the mighty: he judgeth among the gods. 2. Hear long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 3. If Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 5. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

a 4 Chron. xxii. 6. 1st. xlvii. 2. b Oust. 1. 17. 2. Chron. xxii. 7. Ibid. judge. 1. Jer. xii. 3. 8. Job xxxi. 12. Prov. xxxii. 11. a Ibid. vi. 1. PC. ii. 2. Ibid. xxv.

All power is from God: the powers that be, are ordained of God: a strong argument to enforce our obedience, and to engage them to rule with uprightness, knowing from whom they have received authority, and to whom they are accountable for the use of it.

1. God’s presence and presidence is asserted in the congregations of the mighty, and among the gods. The magistrates of the earth, who receive their honour from him, as his vicegerness upon earth, are appointed to administer judgment with impartiality, according to God’s holy word; and his eye is ever upon them, observing their conduct, for which they must answer before him in the great day of his appearing and glory.

2. God gives a solemn charge to his delegates. They are to be the defenders of the poor and fatherless; to do justice to the afflicted and needy, whose poverty, and want of friends to vindicate their rights, exposes them to injuries; and, however great or rich their oppressors, they must deliver them out of their wicked hands. Note, (1.) They who are poor, are too often trampled upon. (2.) It is a grievous thing when the law is made so expensive, that the poor cannot right themselves; or the injury sustained is more tolerable, than the method of redress.

3. God lodges an accusation against wicked magistrates. Hear long will ye judge unjustly, and make oppression more intolerable under the tradition of the law: and accept the perjury of the wicked? awed by their greatness, or swayed by personal regard, or influenced by bribes. They know not, neither will they understand: plain as the rule is, they know not to fear God, and do justice, and wilfully pervert judgment. They walk on in darkness, partiality having blinded their eyes, and studiously avoiding the light of truth; in consequence of which, all the foundations of the earth are out of curly, or moved; for when magistrates are thus unjust and oppressive, condition and every evil work must ensue. This description is very applicable to the Jewish rulers in the days of Christ, to whom it may particularly refer.

Psalms 82:6-8

The highest God can humble, when they abuse their power.

1. He pronounces their doom. I have said, Ye are gods; have given you authority as my delegates; and all of you children of the most High, exalted to a State of English eminence. But think not your greatness will protect you in the abuse of your power; for ye shall die like one; though as gods in the eyes of men, yet dying worms in the sight of God, and ready to fall as one of the princes, See Pfal. lxxxiii. 11. cut off in their iniquities, and brought before his dread tribunal, to answer the charges lodged against them. Note, (1.) The mightiest men are mortal; let them therefore stand in awe, and sin not, lest they provoke God to cut them down. (2.) Though magistrates abuse their power, we must leave it to God to punish them: vengeance is his work; patient submission our duty.

2. The psalmist looks up to God as the judge of the earth, to redress these grievances, &c. 8. and this with a particular respect to the coming of Christ, for which he prays, who will judge the folk rightfully: and being appointed heir of all things, and having all judgment committed to him in heaven and in earth, will come quickly according to his promise, and reform all things; redressing the evils his people have suffered in this disordered world, and recomposing tribulation to them that troubled them; so come, Lord Jesus!