John Calvin Commentary Psalms 82:8

"Arise, O God, judge the earth; For thou shalt inherit all the nations." — Psalms 82:8 (ASV)

Arise, O God! judge the earth. The reason why this psalm concludes with a prayer has already been stated at the commencement. The prophet, finding that his admonitions and remonstrances were ineffectual, and that princes, inflated with pride, treated all instruction on the principles of equity with contempt, addresses himself to God, and calls upon Him to repress their insolence.

By this means, the Holy Spirit gives us reason for comfort whenever we are cruelly treated by tyrants. We may perceive no power on earth to restrain their excesses; but we should lift up our eyes to heaven and seek redress from Him whose office it is to judge the world, and who does not claim this office to Himself in vain.

It is therefore our solemn duty to beseech Him to restore to order what is embroiled in confusion. The reason for this, which immediately follows—for thou shalt inherit all nations—is understood by some as a prophecy concerning the kingdom of Christ, by whom God has brought all nations in subjection to Himself. But it is to be viewed in a broader sense, as implying that God has a rightful claim to the obedience of all nations, and that tyrants are guilty of wickedly and unjustly wresting from Him His prerogative to rule, when they disregard His authority and confound good and evil, right and wrong. Therefore, we ought to beseech Him to restore to order the confusions of the world, and thus to recover the rightful dominion which He has over it.