Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 82:1-8

PSAL. LXXXII.

A Psalme of Asaph.

GOd standeth in the assembly of God, he judgeth in the midst of the Gods. How long will ye judge injurious evill, and accept the faces of the wicked Selah? Iudge ye the poore weakling and the fatherlesse: justifie the afflicted and the poore. Deliver the poore weakling and the needy, [illegible: 1 letter]id free out of the hand of the wicked.

They know not, neither will they understand; they will walke on in darknesse: moved shall be all the foundations of the earth. I have said ye are Gods, and ye all are sonnes of the most high. But surely ye shall die as men, and as one of the Princes shall ye fall. Rise up, O God, judge thou the earth, for thou shalt inherit in all nations.

Annotations. THe assembly of God] that is, the assise (or session) of Magistrates; whose office is the ordinance of god, Rom. 13. 1, 2. Deut. 16. 18. and who are to execute not the judgments of man, but of the Lord, who is with them in the cause and judgement, 2 Chron. 19. 6. Deut, 1. 17. in the mids of the Gods] that is, among the Iudges (as the Chaldee translateth) or Magistrates, (v. 6) who in the Law are called Gods, Exod. 22. 8, 9, 28. because the word of God was given to them, Ioh. 10. 34, 35. Vers. 2. How long, &c.] Thus God by his Prophet judgeth and reproveth the Gods or Iudges for unrighteous judgement. The Chaldee addeth, How long ye wicked will ye judge, &c. accept the faces] respect the persons, lift up, admire, honour or favour the faces; a thing forbidden both concerning rich and poore, Deut. 1. 17. and 16. 19. Lev. 19. 15. Prov. 18. 5. Lam. 2. 1,—9. Vers. 3. Iudge ye] that is, defend, deliver; see Psal. 43. 1. Esa. 1. 17. justifie] that is, doe justice, as 2 Sam. 15. 4. and acquit or absolve him, his cause being right, Deut. 25. 1. Ier. 22. 3. Vers. 5. They know not] The Iudges are ignorant of their dutie, Mic. 3. 1. Ier. 10. 21. Prov. 29. 7. The Chaldee paraphraseth, The are not wise to doe good, and they understand not the Law. they will walke on] that is, continue wilfully ignorant, and sinfull in perverting justice, Mic. 3. 9. To walke in darknesse, is to live in sin, 1 Ioh. 1. 6. Ephe. 4. 17, 18. and 5. 8. moved shall be] to wit, therefore moved, as the Chaldee explaineth it; or though moved be all the foundations; though all lawes and orders be violated, all estates disturbed, and strongest helpes come to ruine, Esa. 24. 18, 19. Vers. 6. sonnes of the most high] the Chaldee paraphraseth, as the Angels of the high. And Magistrates should be as Angels for wisdome, 2 Sam. 14. 20. Vers. 7. as earthly men] as Adam, that is, as any other mortall man: so after, as one of the Princes, that is, of the other Princes of the world: see the like in Iudg. 16. 7. 11. 17. Ge. 49. 16. for this Psalme was spoken to the Magistrates of Israel: for whatsoever the law saith, it saith it to them that are under the Law, Rom. 3. 19. Vers. 8. inherit] that is, have soveraignty and dominion. So this word meaneth, Lev. 25. 45 46. Ier. 49. 2. And Christ is called heire (that is, Lord) of all, Heb. 1. 2. See Psal. 2. 8.