He judges the “gods”

He judges the “gods”

Meditations from Psalm 82

1 God presides in the great assembly;
       he gives judgment among the "gods":

 ² "How long will you defend the unjust
       and show partiality to the wicked?
       Selah
 ³ Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
       maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
 ⁴ Rescue the weak and needy;
       deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
 ⁵ "They know nothing, they understand nothing.
       They walk about in darkness;
       all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
 ⁶ "I said, 'You are "gods";
       you are all sons of the Most High.'
 ⁷ But you will die like mere men;
       you will fall like every other ruler."
 ⁸ Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
       for all the nations are your inheritance.

Psalm 82 has very close correlation to what Jesus Christ did in the clearing of the temple. The great assembly refers to the rulers of Israel, the judges and the priests. They were deemed as “gods” in the sense that they represented God. And in Jesus’ day, the Chief Priest and the Pharisees had the authority as the representatives of God and the rulers of the people. However, they had let unhealthy commercial practices creep into the temple of God and even benefited from it. The merchants they allowed in charged the people excessively for the animals and things needed for sacrifice. They were indeed “defending the unjust” and “showing partiality to the wicked”. But when Jesus came, He judged them as God’s True Priest. Jesus was concerned for the weak and the fatherless, about maintaining the rights of the poor and oppressed. Jesus looked to rescue the weak and needy and deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

As for the corrupt Chief Priests and Pharisees who abused their position, they were destined to die like mere men and fall like every other ruler. However, for Jesus, who judged the earth justly, all the nations will be His inheritance.

May the Lord help us:-

(i)                  Represent Christ in a way that is just and fair

(ii)                Stand up for the poor and helpless

(iii)               Look forward to the coming of Jesus as His inheritance

(iv)              Trust God is in control despite the injustices around us

God bless,

Jason