Rescue the Weak and Needy

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Psalm 82
• Sermon
• Prayer

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Sermon Title: Who Are These Gods — Justice, Authority, and Divine Judgment

Scripture: Psalm 82

I. The Charge Against the Wicked Judges — Psalm 82:2-4

A. The psalm opens with God presiding in the divine council, holding judgment over those called "gods" B. Two primary interpretive positions on who these "gods" are:

1. Heavenly beings — evil angels or demons of the heavenly court, supported by passages such as Ephesians 6:12 and Job 1 (advocated by commentator Derek Kidner)
2. Human judges within Israel — the almost universal position of the church for most of church history, and the position the preacher holds

C. Biblical case for the judges-of-Israel interpretation:

1. Exodus 21:5-6 — the word Elohim (gods/God) is rendered "judges" in the KJV, NIV, and NASB
2. Exodus 22:8-9 — same Hebrew word again translated "judges" in most versions outside the ESV
3. John 10:31-36 — Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 in response to accusations of blasphemy, using the logic that mortal men called "gods" by God demonstrates how much more the one consecrated by the Father may be called Son of God

D. The charge itself: Israel's judges are rendering unjust verdicts, showing partiality to the wicked

1. The vulnerable — the fatherless, the weak, the afflicted, the destitute, the needy — are suffering under corrupt justice
2. Likely bribery and backroom dealing by the wealthy and powerful skewing the courts
3. Justice determined by power and appearances rather than law — nothing new under the sun
4. The powerless have no political recourse; their only recourse is verse 8 — crying out to God, the righteous Judge

II. The Case Against the Judges — Psalm 82:5

A. They have neither knowledge nor understanding; they walk about in darkness B. James Montgomery Boice identifies three perils that come upon any government that refuses to acknowledge God:

1. Ignorance — it will not perceive what is happening or what to do; events will outstrip its ability to cope
2. Inept action — when it does act, it operates in darkness; its programs and policies will be ineffective, treating symptoms rather than causes
3. Shaken foundations — the most basic institutions (courts, schools, government itself) fall into turmoil; see also Psalm 11:3

C. The proper response when foundations crumble is not political revolt but corporate prayer — crying out to the Lord to come and intervene in his providence, or ultimately at the final judgment when Christ, on whose shoulders the government rests, will reign in righteousness

III. The Condemnation — Psalm 82:6-7

A. God had granted these judges great responsibility and authority — they served as representatives of God, rendering verdicts based on his law B. God does establish governing authorities over us for our good, including our spiritual welfare

1. Martin Luther cited Psalm 82 repeatedly, especially in response to the Peasants' Revolt of 1525
2. Luther argued: without functioning government held in honor, there is no peace, and without peace there is no room to teach God's Word or rear children in the fear of God — possibly with an eye toward 1 Timothy 2:1-2
3. Paul's instruction to pray for kings and those in high positions so that believers might live quiet, peaceful, and godly lives reflects this same principle

C. Yet those same governing authorities are answerable to God for how they judge

1. Luther also wrote that God keeps rulers in check — they are not lords unto themselves and cannot do as they like; God himself will judge, punish, and correct them
2. Verse 7 — like men you shall die and fall like any prince — no judge is invincible
3. Illustrated by the exchange between Jesus and Pilate: "You would have no authority over me unless it was given to you from above" (John 19:11) — Pilate's authority was God-given, yet Pilate remained accountable to God, as the Nicene Creed acknowledges: crucified under Pontius Pilate

D. Conclusion — the psalm closes as it opened: verse 1 and verse 8 bookend the whole

1. In the face of corrupt judges and unjust judgments, the church's primary response is united prayer: Arise, O God, judge the earth, for you shall inherit all the nations (Psalm 82:8)
2. This is the cry of the helpless and the hope of the righteous — sovereign justice belongs to God alone