HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vera. 1-B.-Oorruptio optimi pessima est. We have here a vivid picture of the corruption of men, supposed to be, and who shonld have been, the best in Israel. It. refers to the judges, and tells them bow judges are judged (Acts xxiii. 3). And it may be applied to all misuse of power or abuse of trust, where, when, or howsoever any may be guilty thereof. This short psalm tells much concerning- I. THE DIVINE ESTIMATE OF NATIONS BUCH AS lsRAEL, They are" the congrega- tion of God." This is the true rendering (cf. Numb. :x.xvii. 17; :x.xxi. 16; Josh. xxii. 16, 17). Israel is no mere fortuitous concourse of individuals, but a chosen people, a congregation of God. They belong to him, are cared for by him ; God dwells in their midst, takes bis place-" standeth "-among them. Such nations are really theocracies, no matter what form of earthly government may exist. This name for nations, "the congregation of God," likely, if recognized, to be of salutary power. To the nation itself it will give self-respect, and tend to righteousness. To its governors, a sense of responsibility, and a holy fear lest they abW!e their high office. II. THE DIVINE METHOD OF RULE. By means of vicegerents, who should derive their authority from God, and who should embody in themselves the majesty of law, and in whom men would look to find the most perfect earthly pattern of Divine attri- butes of truth, and justice, and mercy, and impartiality. The name "~ods n is there- fore applied to the judges (see also ver. 6, and Exod. xxi. 6; xxii. 8, 28; iv. 16; Perowne), And men are ever on ibe look out for such; and that form of government is best by which such men are most surely placed in power, and men of an opposite character most surely excluded. And to better ensure such rulership is the intent of the reminder that God himself will judge the judge, Nevertheless, we are shown next- III. MAN'S FRUSTRATION OF Goo's PURPOSE, (Ver. 2.) This has been a crying evil, not in Israel alone, but wherever God bas been unknown or forgotten. Tha proper duty of the judge is declared in vers. 3, 4 ; but this they have been far enough from remembering or practising. IV. THE CAUSES OF BUCH WRONG. 1. Moral blindness. "They know not." 2. They care not to acquaint themselves with the Law of God. What little they do know they understand not, and they harden themselves in their sin by their "walking ia darkness," their habitual practice of evil. There are ever the downward. steps in wrong. Then we are shown- V. TBE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN. 1. To society generally. "All the foundations of the earth are out of course." That is, there is a general break-up of all civil order; anarchy and confusion inevitably ensue. It does not need the Hible to show how exceedingly bitter and evil a thing sin is. The facts of history and the obser- vation of God's providence make that clear enough. 2. To t/,e '111'/'ong-doers themselvu. 'l'hey had been greatly exalted ; they bad been regarded, in virtue of their sacred office, as "gods," as "sons of the Most High; " but by their abuse of their trust they should be hurled down as other evil men, and fall low like as they had seen so many evil princes fall. And this not in the natural ccurse of events, but as the result of the awful judgment or God, 180 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. LXXXII. 1-8,
CoNoLusroN. From 1111 the injustices of earth we may turn to God (ver. 7), and 11ppee.l to bis judgment. For-blessed be his Name I-we are the inheritance, the real possession, not of ungodly men, but of God. Our true Judge is the true "Son of the Most High" (John x. 34-38).-S. C.