Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Text: Psalm 82
These psalms of Asaph are for people who are very troubled by injustice.
The judges pervert judgment (vss 1-2)
- Let’s begin by addressing who the gods are. The gods are children of the most High God. These are Israelites who had been given light and judgment by God.
- Jesus references this in John 10:34.
- It’s also seen in Exodus 22:28. So you’re not supposed to degrade the idols? That’s not what that means.
- Acts 23:1-5
- Psalm 75:1-3, Asaph feels like he’s carrying the weight of the world as it falls apart and the people responsible for making judgments are perverting judgment.
- Acceptance is a big word. Who are they accepting and why? The wicked, and probably because of money. You’ll see this as you continue reading.
- Those making decisions are truly victimizing people for profit. They’re willing to cast off righteousness if there is money to be made.
- Be as gods knowing good and evil. With the entrance of evil into humanity, man was required to judge between good and evil.
A positive judgment (vss 3-4)
- People say don’t judge, but this is a good judgment.
- Defend the defenseless
- Do justice to the afflicted and needy
- Deliver the poor and needy from the wicked
- Innocence is special to God. And those willing to defend innocence are on the right side of the future and history.
The path of the corrupt judges (vss 5-7)
- Verse 5 is a Hebrew way of saying, “The world is falling apart.”
- They refuse to accept their perversion.
Judge of the earth will make all things right
- He will reconcile all things to God and righteousness.
- His inheritance is the people. The meek shall inherit the earth.
- Protect what’s good. Protect what’s innocent.
