God Desires Good Government
It's very easy to misread Psalm 82. The opening line sounds like the Psalmist is going to lament to God... but that's not the case....
Psalm 82:1–2 God stands in the divine assembly; he administers judgment in the midst of the gods. 2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show favoritism to the wicked? Selah
The key to understanding this passage is the understanding of "gods" in verse 1. Who are the "gods?" other divine beings? No. God wouldn't sit with them because they don't exist. He alone is the GOD of all. God is addressing the "gods" and speaking to them about their unjust favoritism.
Jesus uses this Psalm when confronted with the leaders of His day. It was subtle way of pointing them to this Psalm and further the exposure of their sins. The "gods" of this verse are the rulers of nations and peoples, those who run the government, the church, the civic organizations that are supposed to help protect and serve people.
And God stands in their assembly and confronts their unjust governing!
God is all about authority. But He expects it to be good. What does He require of our leaders?
Psalm 82:3–8 (ESV) Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
God wants leaders to look after those who cannot look after themselves. And when we don't, the earth is shaken. America may have a lot of problems, but Americans do a great deal for the poor and powerless. I believe that is why God continues to bless us.
Is that changing? In many ways, it seems to be. We are becoming more self obsessed and celebrity obsessed. Everyone is after their own good. Psalm 82 is good recalibration for us all. James will speak of favoritism in James 2.
We need to remember verse 6!
Psalm 82:6 (ESV) I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;
God makes rulers. God installs kings and dethrones them.
James 2:1 (ESV) My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
God hates partiality. And when it happens in a nation among its leaders, He will not tolerate it for long. He will replace those who look after only themselves. For leadership is not about being important. It's about protecting and caring those who seem unimportant.
In the case of this generation addressed in Psalm 82, God's verdict is handed down in Verse 6:
I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”
Finally, the Psalmist calls for God's perfect justice... and not only that... He looks forward to Christ. Yes, Christ is coming for an inheritance of all nations:
VERSE 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!
How does Christ inherit the nations? By arising on the Cross, and arising from the grave and arising into heaven. He passed the temptation of the devil and was given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Christians seek that kingdom now and it's ultimate consummation to come!
Psalm 82:1–2 God stands in the divine assembly; he administers judgment in the midst of the gods. 2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show favoritism to the wicked? Selah
The key to understanding this passage is the understanding of "gods" in verse 1. Who are the "gods?" other divine beings? No. God wouldn't sit with them because they don't exist. He alone is the GOD of all. God is addressing the "gods" and speaking to them about their unjust favoritism.
Jesus uses this Psalm when confronted with the leaders of His day. It was subtle way of pointing them to this Psalm and further the exposure of their sins. The "gods" of this verse are the rulers of nations and peoples, those who run the government, the church, the civic organizations that are supposed to help protect and serve people.
And God stands in their assembly and confronts their unjust governing!
God is all about authority. But He expects it to be good. What does He require of our leaders?
Psalm 82:3–8 (ESV) Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
God wants leaders to look after those who cannot look after themselves. And when we don't, the earth is shaken. America may have a lot of problems, but Americans do a great deal for the poor and powerless. I believe that is why God continues to bless us.
Is that changing? In many ways, it seems to be. We are becoming more self obsessed and celebrity obsessed. Everyone is after their own good. Psalm 82 is good recalibration for us all. James will speak of favoritism in James 2.
We need to remember verse 6!
Psalm 82:6 (ESV) I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;
God makes rulers. God installs kings and dethrones them.
James 2:1 (ESV) My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
God hates partiality. And when it happens in a nation among its leaders, He will not tolerate it for long. He will replace those who look after only themselves. For leadership is not about being important. It's about protecting and caring those who seem unimportant.
In the case of this generation addressed in Psalm 82, God's verdict is handed down in Verse 6:
I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”
Finally, the Psalmist calls for God's perfect justice... and not only that... He looks forward to Christ. Yes, Christ is coming for an inheritance of all nations:
VERSE 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!
How does Christ inherit the nations? By arising on the Cross, and arising from the grave and arising into heaven. He passed the temptation of the devil and was given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Christians seek that kingdom now and it's ultimate consummation to come!
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