Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 82
Overview:
An exhortation to
Judges.
(1-5) The doom of evil rulers.
(6-8)
1-5 Magistrates are the mighty in authority for the public
good. Magistrates are the ministers of
God's
Providence, for
keeping up order and peace, and particularly in punishing
evil-doers, and protecting those that 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
persons are public mischiefs.
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 honour shall be laid in the
Dust.
God governs the
world. There is a righteous
God to whom we may go, and
On whom
we may depend. This also has respect 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 rule over all
nations, in
Truth,
Righteousness, and peace.