Annotations upon the five books immediately following the historicall part of the Old Testament (commonly called the five doctrinall or poeticall books) to wit, the book of Iob, the Psalms, the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon ... / by Arthur Jackson ...

PSALM LXXXII.

Vers. 1. GOd standeth in the congregation of the mighty, &c.] That is, He is present among the great judges and Potentates of the world, and president over them, see the Notes 2 Chron. 19.6. and Deut. 1.17: he judgeth among the Gods; see the Note Exod. 22.28. The meaning is, that they are but his vicegerents, and that he will therefore judge them, according as they carry themselves in judging others. And hence it is that in the following verses he expostulates with them as his subjects and vassals, How long will ye judge unjustly? &c.

Vers. 5. They know not, &c.] As if he had said, But, alas, it is in vain to speak to these men, They know not, that is, Being blinded with gifts, corrupt affections, and their greatnesse in the world, they know nothing of this which I have spoken to them of; they know not what is just and what is unjust, nor what belongs to them to doe: neither will they understand; that is, they are wilfully ignorant, and will not be taught: they walk on in darknesse, they proceed on in their waies of igno∣rance,

sin and folly. And then for the last clause, all the foundations are out of course, in the originall are moved, either it doth simply declare the evil that came by the injustice of these judges, to wit, that for want of justice and judgement, which are the foundations of kingdomes & commonwealths, all things were out of or∣der and went to wrack; or else it is added to imply the obstinate blindnesse of the judges, who though they might see that all things were brought into confusion, & were like to be utterly ruined by their unjust doings, yet they would not be con∣vinced of the evil of their waies. But see the Notes Psal. 11.3, and 75.3.

Vers. 6. I have said, Ye are Gods, &c.] See the Note Exod. 22.28: and all of you are children of the most High, to wit, because God had conferred part of his sove∣reignty and judiciary power upon them, as Princes are wont to leave theirs to their children; and because withall they should be, if they would carry themselves as they ought to do, most dear to God, as children are to their father.

Vers. 7. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.] That is, ye shall be cast down from your places of dignity and power, (according to that Luk. 1.52, he hath put down the mighty from their seats) like as other Princes before you have been, or as it hath been with the princes of other nations; or, ye shall die by some violent death, as usually tyrants are wont to do.

Vers. 8. Arise, O God, judge the earth, &c.] As if he had said, Seeing the judges on earth are every where so unjust, do thou from heaven take this work into thine own hands; do thou free the oppressed, and punish the oppressours, with their un∣just judges: for thou shalt inherit all nations; that is, by this means all nations shall submit themselves to thee, and shall worship and fear thee; or, thou art and alwaies shalt be the supreme judge of all nations, neither can any tyrants wrest this power out of thine hands. Yea some conceive that this is spoken in reference to Christ.