Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Psalms

[Lucky]

Psalm 82 (KJV)

1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth 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.

How do you as a modern christian view psalms 82? Is this a call to the other gods to judge justly? And what does he judges among the gods mean? Key word "among". Also it seems psalms 82 says God acknowledges the other gods and says they are children of the most high but condemns them and says they will die like men. How do you feel about the other gods being called children of the most high?

[jimwalton]

Psalm 82 is talking about the divine council, which is portrayed in the OT as a structural reality of YHWH's administration of the cosmos. God engages with them and counsels with them (Gn. 1.26; 3.22; 11.7; Isa. 6.8), gives them assignments (Dt. 32.8), and solicits them for ideas (1 Ki. 22.19-22), but He doesn't need them (Isa. 40.12-14). They are not other gods or other divinities, and they are not on an equal par with YHWH ( Ps. 89.6-8), nor do they carry any divine authority.