Table of Contents
Background and Context
Psalm 82 is a dramatic and powerful psalm of Asaph that unfolds like a scene from a divine courtroom. It is a prophetic lawsuit in which God Himself stands up as both prosecutor and judge to confront a group of corrupt authorities.
The central interpretive question in this psalm is the identity of the “gods” (elohim in Hebrew) who are being judged in God’s “great assembly.” There are two main interpretations:
- Human Rulers and Judges: This view sees the “gods” as powerful human leaders, especially the judges of Israel. In the Old Testament, judges were meant to administer God’s justice and were seen as His representatives on earth. In this sense, they could be addressed with the exalted title “gods.” The psalm is therefore a rebuke of their corrupt leadership and their failure to uphold the Law.
- Angelic or Spiritual Beings: This view, drawing on concepts of a “divine council” in the ancient world, sees God judging a council of angelic beings to whom He had delegated authority over the nations. According to this interpretation, these spiritual powers ruled unjustly, leading to the world’s chaos.
Regardless of their precise identity, the core message is the same: all delegated authority, whether human or spiritual, is ultimately accountable to God, the supreme Judge of the universe. The psalm is a fierce declaration that God will not tolerate injustice, especially when it is perpetrated by those who are supposed to be His representatives.
Theological Themes
This short psalm is a profound statement on the nature of justice, power, and divine sovereignty.
God as the Supreme Judge: The psalm opens with the declaration that God “presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment” (verse 1). This establishes God’s ultimate authority. All other powers are subordinate and answerable to Him. He is the final court of appeals, and His judgment is inescapable.
Social Justice as the Standard of True Leadership: The indictment against the corrupt rulers is crystal clear. Their primary failure is a lack of social justice. God’s standard for leadership is not power or wealth, but a commitment to “defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (verse 3). This places care for the vulnerable at the very center of God’s moral law.
Injustice Creates Cosmic Disorder: The psalm makes a stunning connection between the failure of justice on earth and the stability of the cosmos. Because the corrupt rulers “know nothing” and “walk about in darkness,” the very “foundations of the earth are shaken” (verse 5). This means that injustice is not just a social problem; it is an attack on the moral fabric and order that God has woven into His creation.
The Accountability of the Powerful: God’s sentence for the unjust rulers is a stark reminder of their mortality and accountability. Though they were given an exalted, “god-like” status as His representatives, they will “die like mere mortals” (verse 7). Their power and titles will not save them from the judgment that awaits all who abuse their authority.
Literary Structure and Genre
Psalm 82 is a prophetic lawsuit. It is structured like a legal proceeding in a courtroom.
- Verse 1: The court is called to session, and the supreme Judge takes His stand.
- Verses 2-4: The Judge reads the indictment, listing the specific charges against the defendants.
- Verse 5: The Judge describes the chaotic consequences of their crimes.
- Verses 6-7: The Judge recalls the defendants’ high status and then pronounces their sentence.
- Verse 8: The psalmist, having witnessed the verdict, makes a final appeal for the Judge to take direct control.
Verse by Verse Commentary on Psalm 82
Verse 1: The Divine Court is in Session
“God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the ‘gods.'”
The psalm opens with a dramatic scene. God is not sitting; He presides or “takes his stand” in the midst of a “great assembly” or divine council. He is rising to speak, to bring a case against the assembled “gods” (elohim). This immediately establishes His supreme authority. He is the one who convenes the court and delivers the verdict.
Verses 2-4: The Indictment is Read
“How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
God speaks, and His words are a sharp and direct accusation. “How long” implies that this injustice has been going on for far too long. Their crime is twofold: they actively “defend the unjust” and “show partiality to the wicked.”
God then lays out in verses 3-4 what they should have been doing. Their job description had four key duties, all focused on the most vulnerable members of society: defend, uphold the cause, rescue, and deliver the weak, the fatherless, the poor, and the needy. This is God’s own job description, and He demands it of anyone who rules in His name.
Verses 5-7: The Sentence is Pronounced
“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.”
God first gives a verdict on their character: they are ignorant and willfully walk in moral darkness. Their failure has catastrophic consequences, causing the very foundations of the earth to be shaken.
In verse 6, God reminds them of their exalted position. He quotes His own past declaration: “I said, ‘You are “gods.”‘” He had granted them a position of honor and authority as “sons of the Most High.” They were supposed to reflect His divine character. This is the verse that Jesus quotes in John 10 to defend His own divinity.
Verse 7 delivers the stunning sentence. The word “But” signals a complete reversal. Despite their lofty titles, their destiny is death. “You will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” Their god-like status offers them no exemption from the judgment and mortality that is common to all creatures.
Verse 8: The Final Appeal
“Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.”
The psalm concludes with the voice of the psalmist, Asaph. Having witnessed this divine judgment in his vision, he makes a final, climactic prayer. Since all delegated authorities have proven to be corrupt and have failed in their duty, he pleads for God to take matters into His own hands. “Rise up, O God, judge the earth.” The psalmist longs for God’s direct, personal, and universal rule, because He is the one to whom “all the nations” rightfully belong.
Practical Lessons for Today
All Authority is Delegated and Accountable: This psalm is a powerful reminder that every person in a position of authority—whether a president, a judge, a police officer, a boss, or a parent—is exercising authority that has been delegated by God. All will be held accountable to Him for how they use that power.
God’s Standard for Leadership is Care for the Vulnerable: The primary test of a just leader, a just government, or a just society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. The call to defend the weak, the fatherless, the poor, and the oppressed is a timeless and non-negotiable command from God.
Injustice Has Consequences: Psalm 82 teaches that injustice is not a small matter. It erodes the very foundations of society. A community that does not care for its poor and that shows partiality to the rich and powerful is a community that is fundamentally unstable and heading for collapse.
Our Ultimate Hope is in God’s Direct Rule: When we see earthly leaders fail and human systems of justice prove corrupt, it is easy to despair. This psalm directs our hope to the ultimate solution: the final, perfect, and just reign of God. We are to pray, “Rise up, O God, judge the earth,” a prayer that is ultimately answered in the return of King Jesus.
Cross References
John 10:34-36: “Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your Law, “I have said you are ‘gods'”? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of 1blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?'” Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 in this famous passage to argue that if Scripture can give the exalted title “gods” to mere human judges, it is not blasphemy for Him, the one truly sent from God, to call Himself the Son of God.
2 Chronicles 19:6-7: “He told the judges, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.'” King Jehoshaphat’s charge to his newly appointed judges perfectly reflects the principles of Psalm 82, reminding them that they are God’s representatives and must judge with His righteousness.
Isaiah 3:13-14: “The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: ‘It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.'” The prophet Isaiah presents a very similar scene of God rising up to act as prosecutor and judge against the corrupt leaders of Israel for their oppression of the poor.
Deuteronomy 1:17: “Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God.” This verse from the Law of Moses establishes the foundational principle that human judgment is a sacred trust from God and must be carried out with the same impartiality that God Himself shows.