Psalm 82

of Asaph.

This is the eleventh of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph

1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods.

2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High.

7 But ye shall die like men and fall like one of the princes.

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. (KJV)

This is the psalm that Christ referred to in John 10:34. It was on this discourse that the Jews ask him this question “How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly.” Christ answer was simple “I told you and you believed not.” He ended by saying “I and the Father are one.” To this the Jews took up stones to stone him and answer him “we stone you not for your good works, but because thou being a man make thyself God.” Then Jesus referred them to this psalm. The theme of John chapter ten is the good shepherd and his flock. In this discourse Christ pictured himself as the good shepherd who took care of his sheep and did not act as a hireling who did not care for the sheep, but for his own personal needs. The good shepherd cares for the sheep, but the hireling only cares for himself. The rulers of the Jews who were to guide the weak and needy, the fatherless and the poor, forsook their duty and focused on making their lives better at the expense of the ones that were entrusted to protect. As I was studying A.W. Tozer’s book Knowledge Of The Holy this week he point the conclusion of how the religious as well as the political leaders at the time of Christ did not have right view of God. The same can also be said about the religious and political leaders of today. As I study the truths in his book, I realized how much of our daily activities does not include the realization God in our decisions. After studying the chapter on God Incomprehensible, I realized how thankful I am for Christ. By trusting in Christ, I can get a glimpse of God. As John writes in I John 1:3 “that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ.” I can now fellowship with my creator.

He also states in chapter 3 verses one and two that we are the sons of God.

So, think about the quote from this psalm “ye are Gods” in relationship to John’s writings in I John chapter three. Christ the son of God came to earth as the son of Man and was manifested to take away sins so that one day we too will be like him. Therefore, everyone that has this hope in Christ purifies himself even as Christ is pure. Ask yourself this question today “where is your hope for eternity found?”. Does your daily activities center around the pursuit of the knowledge of the holy, eternal, and incomprehensible God?

Another approach to understanding this psalm could be how those whom God has appointed to be in positions of power use their power for evil instead of good.  In this psalm Asaph writes about those that have the responsibility of watching over and taking care of the ones below them.  Their duty was to deliver the poor and the needly and to rid them from the hand of the wicked.  However, their desire became self-centered and instead of fulfilling the duties that their position as judges they instead focus their attention to the task of making themselves as God.  This is what Satan did as in Isaiah chapter fourteen.  His I wills: 

          I will ascend into heaven.

          I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

          I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.

          I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.

          I will be like the most High.

Satan’s I will focus on his desires to be like God, instead of being a child of the Most High.  Matthew 4:8,9 “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things I give thee, if thou will fall down and worship me.” gives us a glimpse of Satan’s true I wills. 

In I John 3:1-3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore, the world knows us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that when he shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.”  These that know Christ as their personal Savior are the sons of God and are now a new creation.  The old ways of life are passed away and our delight is in the law of the Lord.  As the sons of God, we are should not let sin rule our life.