For thou shalt inherit all nations. ] Does not this last verse contain a prophecy of our Lord, the calling of the Gentiles, and the prevalence of Christianity over the earth? Thus several of the fathers have understood the passage. It is only by the universal spread of Christianity over the world, that the reign of righteousness and justice is to be established: and of whom can it be said that he shall inherit all nations, but of Jesus Christ?

ANALYSIS OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND PSALM

There are three parts in this Psalm: - I. The prophet's proclamation, ver. 1.

II. God's controversy with the judges of the land, ver. 2-7.

III. The prophet's prayer that God would rise and judge, ver. 8.

I. God's presence proclaimed in court. At an assize the judge sits in the midst of the justices: "God standeth in the congregation," &c., ver. 1.

II. 1. He reproves them, ver. 2. 1. For their unjust judgment: "Ye judge unjustly." 2. For their obstinate continuance in it: "How long will ye," &c.

Ye have not done it once, but often. 3. For their partiality: "they accepted persons," ver. 2.

2. He exhorts them to do their duty. 1. "Defend the poor and fatherless." Do right to every man. 2. "Deliver the poor and needy," ver. 3.

3. He acquaints them with the events that shall follow where justice is not done: all is out of order; and the judges are the cause of it.

1. Through ignorance: "They know not the law," ver. 5.

2. Through obstinacy: "They will not learn it," ver. 5.

3. Through their determination to walk in their own way, ver. 5: "They walk on in darkness." 4. They shall in consequence be brought, 1. To an untimely death: "Ye shall die like men." 2. To a shameful death: "Ye shall fall like one of the princes," ye shall have a mighty fall, ver. 7.