Psalm LXXXII

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the

gods.

2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?

Selah.

3 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.

6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High.

7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth! for thou shalt inherit all nations.

Asaph’s name is at Psalm 1., in which the solemn scenes and expostulations of the Great Day are given; and here, too, is

* The change of persons, “He” and “I,” is quite natural, if Messiah is the .speaker throughout. But, besides, we find such changes from the indirect to the direct frequently, e.g., Exodus x.xiii. 25, and Isa. x. 12.

his name, prefixed to this awfully authoritative rebuke and warning —

We see, verse 1, the Judge surveying earth’s rulers. The i.’an.

“God hath placed himself in the assemblij of the mighty.’’ (Isa. iii. 13.)” He judges in the midst of the gods,’’ (*. e., earth’s judges, Exodus xxii. 28, John X. 34.) We hear his voice (ver, 2), and we recognise in it him who speaks to us, “How long, ye simple ones,” in Proverbs i. 26. The “Selah” completes it, giving a solemn seal to the words.

We listen again (verses 3, 4); he is declaring the rules that should guide them — rules on which the Judge himself has ever acted — defending the poor; interposing where no help of man was on the side of the oppressed; maintaining equity; doing acts of disinterested grace and favour.

We are told of the contempt poured upon Him (ver, 5), for it is said, “They take no notice” (they disregard God and his Christ), &c.; and as a consequence, “The foundations of earth begin to totter,” (comp. Isa. xxiv. 20); and we hear the voice of the Great Judge (ver. 6) —

“I have said! iyt, i. e., This is now your doom — I solemnly proclaim it) — Ye are judges (bearing the name of God, as verse 2); All of you are sons of the Most High /”

This is your great name, in which you rest secure. But “Surely ye shall die, as other men have died; Ye shall fall, as other men of rank have fallen.’”*’

Your day is coming! The saints are raising the loud cry of verse 8, inviting Messiah, the true God, the Son of the Most High (John x. 34), the Mighty One, the Judge and Ruler, to arise and take his inheritance, for he is the “heir of all things;” and to be the true Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Barak, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Samson, and Samuel, who will judge, or govern and rule, a mismanaged earth. We sing this song of Zion in his ears, urging him to come quickly; and we sing it to one another in joyful hope, while the foundations of earth seem out of course, because here we find

Messiah the true Judge of a misgoverned world.

* “As other men,” ,sec note on rtjuhn Ix.wvii.