PSALM 82

The God of gods

The glory of God/gods in justice (vv.1-4)

1 God takes His stand in His own congregation;	He judges in the midst of the rulers/gods.
2 How long will you judge unjustly	And show partiality to the wicked? Selah.
3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless;	Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.[1]
4 Rescue the weak and needy;	Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.

God’s judgment of unjust gods (vv.5-8)

5 They do not know nor do they understand;	They walk about in darkness;		All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, “You are gods,		And all of you are sons of the Most High.
7 “Nevertheless you will die like men		And fall [2] like any one of the princes.”
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth!		For it is You who possesses all the nations. [3]

[1] The Westminster Confession of Faith quotes from Psalm 82 when discussing civil magistrates, “It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto: (Prov. 8:15–16, Rom. 13:1–2,4) in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth; (Ps. 2:10–12, 1 Tim. 2:2, Ps. 82:3–4, 2 Sam. 23:3, 1 Pet. 2:13)… (Chapter 23:2).”

[2] There is a stark contrast between Most High in v.5 and unjust judges falling from their height as gods (see the similar contrast in Psalm 83:17-18).

[3] When Psalm was written some 2,500 years ago, the Gospel was confined to a small geographical region of the world. Today, the Gospel is going to the ends of the earth. God’s people live in many nations consisting of various forms of governments.

ü There are close to 100 million martyrs in the 20th century. (World Mission Digest)

ü There have been more people martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ in the 20th century than in all the previous nineteen combined. (James and Marti Hefley, By Their Blood)