Psalms 82:4

Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. DELIVER THE POOR AND NEEDY; RID THEM OUT OF THE HAND OF THE WICKED - (.)...

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....

DELIVER THE POOR AND NEEDY - That is, Deliver them from the power and the arts of those who would oppress and wrong them. This would not be showing them partiality; it would be simply doing them justice. RID THEM OUT OF THE HAND OF THE WICKED - Deliver, or Rescue them from their hands; that is, from their attempts to oppress and wrong them....

EXPOSITION Two different explanations have been given of the general bearing and intention of this psalm—one, recently advocated by Professor Cheyne, that it is a denunciation of the angels whom God has put in charge of the earth (see Daniel 10:13; Daniel 12:1), on account of the violence and injustice which they have connived at and permitted; the other, that it is a denunciation of the human judges in Israel, who are corrupt and oppressors of the people. The objection to the former view is, first, that the angels are nowhere else taxed with wrong doing, or with anything worse than folly (Job 15:15); and, secondly, that it is inconceivable that God should entrust the government of the world to such imperfect and

DELIVER THE POOR AND NEEDY,.... From his adversary and oppressor, who is mightier than he, and draws him to the judgment seat; when it is not in his power to defend himself against him, and get out of his hands, unless a righteous judge will show a regard to him and his cause; and sometimes even an unjust judge, through importunity, will do this, as everyone ought, and every righteous one will: RID THEM OUT OF THE HAND OF THE WICKED; this was what the poor widow importuned the unjust judge for, and obtained, Luke 18:3....

Psalms 82 Concerning Judgment _ 1. The judge with His righteous judgment (Psalms 82:1)_ 2. Arise O God! judge the earth (Psalms 82:6) His own presence in the congregation of God (Israel) means a righteous judgment. Israel is then owned as His congregation (Numbers 27:17). The judges among them were called gods; the Hebrew word for judges in Exodus 21:6 is “elohim”--gods, mighty ones. Our Lord refers to this Psalms 82:6 in...

LXXXII. AGAINST INIQUITOUS RULERS. Jewish rulers are meant, as is plain from Psalms 82:3 f. PSALMS 82:6 F. The use of the word God in Psalms 82:6 f. is ironical. The great men bear themselves as if Divine, but have to die like other men. [But see on Psalms 58:1. A. S. P] PRINCES: read, demons. The writer may have had Genesis 6:1 * in mind. Psalms 82:8. inherit: read, rule. But the verse is a later addition. God's rule over the heathen has nothing to do w

God speaks, arraigning the judges for injustice and partiality, and bidding them perform their duties faithfully....

RID— _Rescue._...

PSALMS 82 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE The Judgment of Unjust Judges. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 82:1, Introductory Vision. Stanza II., Psalms 82:2-7, Reprimand of the Judges by the Judge of Judges. Stanza III., Psalms 82:8, Closing Prayer. (Lm.) PsalmBy Asaph. 1 Elohim hath stationed himself in the congregation of GOD,[161] [161] Heb.: _-'El._ in the midst of Divine messengers[162] he judgeth. [162] Heb.: _-'elohim_as in Psalms 8:5,...