Psalms
Chapter 82
1
God Judges the Judges
God presides in the divine council; he gives judgment among the gods:
2
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?
3
Give justice to the weak and the orphan; defend the poor and the oppressed.
4
Rescue the helpless and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5
Without knowledge and understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the earth’s foundations are shaken.
6
“You are gods,” I said, “you are all sons of the Most High.”
7
But now, you will die like the others; you will all fall, like any mortal.
8
Rise, O God, judge the earth, you who guide all the nations.
Commentaries
82
God presides over every court, regardless of how distinguished the judges may be. The judges mentioned here might be the ‘beggarly elemental spirits,’ dictatorial beings that are not truly gods by nature (Col 2:8ff), yet are worshipped by many. For example, stars still have their followers, and horoscopes remain popular. From this text, Jesus subtly defended his claim to be the Son of God, with authority delegated by his Father. He did not want to overwhelm his interlocutors with revelation. Time was necessary before the full meaning of this significant title could be revealed.
This psalm is for those who oppose social chaos and hope for justice.