Psalms 82:5

All the foundations of the earth are out of course,

The radical wrongness of the world

I. The foundation of mauve individual character is “out of course.” The true foundation of man’s character implies the supremacy of the Divine over the human, the spiritual over the carnal. Instead of this, the character of mankind is generally organized on the principle that puts the carnal over the spiritual, the human over the Divine.

II. The foundation of man’s social character is “out of course.” The true principle on which society should be formed is, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Instead of this, alas! falsehood, fraud, cupidity, intensified selfishness, form the world’s platform of social action.

III. The foundation of man’s political character is “out of course.” Righteousness is the only true and safe foundation of kingdoms. No human government can be safe or useful that aims not chiefly to develop the rights of men and to deal out justice to all. How often is it that the many are sacrificed to the few, the principles of rectitude for a miserable expediency.

IV. The foundation of man’s religious character is “out of course.” Supreme sympathy with the supremely good is the foundation of all true religion. Instead of which, as a rule, the religions of the world,--even the religion of England,--are based on dogmas, or ceremonies, or on mawkish sentiment. (Homilist.)