Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 8. Arise, O God, judge the earth ] Justice is perverted in the land: take the scepter, 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, ver. 1.
II. God's controversy with the judges of the land, ver. 2-7.
III. The prophet's prayer that God would rise and judge, ver. 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., ver. 1.
II. 1. He reproves them, ver. 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," ver. 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," ver. 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," ver. 5.
2. Through obstinacy: "They will not learn it," ver. 5.
3. Through their determination to walk in their own way, ver. 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, ver. 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 pmnish 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," ver. 8. Publish thy own laws, appoint thy own offlcers and let them in thy name dispense righteousness and true holiness throughout the world.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-8 - It is hard for men to have honour put upon them, and not to be proud of it. But all the rulers of the earth shall die, and all their honou shall be laid in the dust. God governs the world. There is a righteou God to whom we may go, and on whom we may depend. This also has respec to the kingdom of the Messiah. Considering the state of affairs in the world, we have need to pray that the Lord Jesus would speedily rul over all nations, in truth, righteousness, and peace _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew קומה6965 אלהים430 שׁפטה8199 הארץ776 כי3588 אתה859 תנחל5157 בכל3605 הגוים׃1471
