Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 82
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 82
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 82
"God standeth in the congregation of God; He judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? Selah Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the poor and needy: Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither do they understand; They walk to and fro in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are shaken." — Psalms 82:1-5 (ASV)
Magistrates are the mighty in authority for the public good. Magistrates are ministers of God's providence, for maintaining order and peace, and particularly in punishing evildoers and protecting those who do well.
Good princes and good judges, who mean well, are under Divine direction; and bad ones, who mean ill, are under Divine restraint.
The authority of God is to be submitted to in those governors whom His providence places over us. But when justice is turned from what is right, no good can be expected. The evil actions of public officials are public harms.
"I said, Ye are gods, And all of you sons of the Most High. Nevertheless ye shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes. Arise, O God, judge the earth; For thou shalt inherit all the nations. " — Psalms 82:6-8 (ASV)
It is hard for people to have honor given to them without becoming proud of it. But all the rulers of the earth will die, and all their honor will be laid in the dust. God governs the world. There is a righteous God to whom we can go, and on whom we can depend.
This also concerns the kingdom of the Messiah. Considering the state of affairs in the world, we need to pray that the Lord Jesus would speedily rule over all nations, in truth, righteousness, and peace.
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