Psalm 82
Psalm 82, Earthly Judges Before the Great Judge
Psalm 82 is titled “A Psalm of Asaph.” Asaph was likely the great singer and musician connected with the worship of Israel during the days of David and Solomon. 1 Chronicles 15:17, “So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah, and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah.” 1 Chronicles 15:18, “And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters.” 1 Chronicles 15:19, “So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass.” 1 Chronicles 16:5, “Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, with psalteries and with harps, but Asaph made a sound with cymbals.” 1 Chronicles 16:6, “Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.” 1 Chronicles 16:7, “Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.”
Asaph’s musical ministry was prophetic in character. 1 Chronicles 25:1, “Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals, and the number of the workmen according to their service was.” 2 Chronicles 29:30, “Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.”
Psalm 82 takes the reader into the courtroom of God. It shows the LORD standing in judgment over earthly rulers, judges, and magistrates who have abused delegated authority. Human judges are called “gods” because they stand in a position appointed by God, exercising judgment over the lives of men. Yet their authority is limited, accountable, and temporary. God rebukes them for injustice, partiality, neglect of the poor, and failure to defend the vulnerable. The psalm then reminds them that though they hold high office, they will die like ordinary men and stand before the true Judge. The final cry is for God Himself to arise and judge the earth, because all nations belong to Him.
A. God Summons the Judges
Psalm 82:1 through Psalm 82:2, God Questions the Unjust Judges
Psalm 82:1, “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, he judgeth among the gods.”
Psalm 82:2, “How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.”
The psalm opens with a solemn courtroom scene. “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty.” The LORD is pictured as standing in authority. A judge may sit while hearing a case, but he rises to pronounce sentence. God is not absent from human courts, governments, or positions of authority. He stands above them. He observes their judgments, weighs their motives, and holds them accountable.
The phrase “the congregation of the mighty” refers to an assembly of rulers or judges. They may be mighty among men, but they are not mighty before God. Human authority is real, but it is derivative. Men may sit in courts, wear robes, hold offices, issue sentences, command officers, and affect the lives of others, but God stands over them all.
The verse continues, “he judgeth among the gods.” The word translated “gods” is Elohim. In Scripture, Elohim can refer to the true God, false gods, angelic beings, or human judges depending on context. Here it is best understood as human judges or rulers who serve as God’s delegated authorities in civil order. They are called “gods” not because they are divine by nature, but because they exercise authority under God in matters of justice.
This understanding is confirmed by how Jesus used this passage in John 10. John 10:34, “Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” John 10:35, “If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken.” John 10:36, “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God?” John 10:37, “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.” John 10:38, “But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works, that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”
Jesus’ argument does not deny His deity. Rather, He shows that if Scripture can use the word “gods” for human judges because of their office, then His claim to be the Son of God cannot be dismissed as blasphemy, especially in light of His works and divine mission. The passage therefore confirms that Psalm 82 is speaking of human judges who are accountable to God.
God does not summon these judges to honor them. He summons them to rebuke them. Verse 2 says, “How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?” This question exposes the sin of corrupt justice. They are not ignorant of their duty. They have been judging unjustly. They have been showing partiality to the wicked. They have favored the guilty, protected the powerful, and failed the innocent.
To “accept the persons of the wicked” means to show favoritism based on status, wealth, power, influence, or personal advantage. Scripture repeatedly condemns partiality in judgment. Deuteronomy 1:17, “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment, but ye shall hear the small as well as the great, ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s, and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” Leviticus 19:15, “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty, but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.”
A judge must not favor the rich because they are powerful, and he must not favor the poor merely because they are poor. Justice must be righteous, impartial, and grounded in truth. Yet Psalm 82 especially condemns judges who protect the wicked at the expense of the weak.
The verse ends with “Selah.” The scene must be considered soberly. God stands in judgment over judges. Every courtroom is under heaven. Every unjust sentence is heard by the LORD. Every bribe, every act of favoritism, every abuse of office, every legal betrayal of the vulnerable, and every corrupt protection of the wicked is known to God.
Psalm 82:3 through Psalm 82:4, God Commands the Unjust Judges
Psalm 82:3, “Defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to the afflicted and needy.”
Psalm 82:4, “Deliver the poor and needy, rid them out of the hand of the wicked.”
God now gives the judges their duty. “Defend the poor and fatherless.” The poor and fatherless were among the most vulnerable in ancient society. They often lacked money, family protection, social influence, and legal power. Because of this, they were easy targets for exploitation. God commands judges to defend them.
This does not mean corrupt favoritism toward the poor. It means the judge must ensure that weakness does not become a reason for injustice. A poor man should not lose because he cannot pay. An orphan should not be crushed because he has no father to defend him. A righteous legal system must protect those who cannot protect themselves from powerful predators.
The command continues, “do justice to the afflicted and needy.” Justice is not sentiment. It is not pity detached from truth. It is righteous judgment applied to real cases. The afflicted and needy must not merely receive kind words. They must receive justice. Their oppressors must be confronted, restrained, and punished when guilty.
Verse 4 says, “Deliver the poor and needy, rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” One mark of wickedness is that it preys upon the vulnerable. The wicked often use law, power, violence, intimidation, debt, bureaucracy, or influence to trap the weak. God commands judges to rescue the vulnerable from the hand of such men.
This is the proper function of civil justice under God. Government is not autonomous. It is accountable to the LORD. King Jehoshaphat gave wise instruction to judges in Judah. 2 Chronicles 19:6, “And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do, for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.” 2 Chronicles 19:7, “Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you, take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.”
Judges must remember that they judge for the LORD. Their authority is not their personal possession. It is a trust from God. They are not free to use it for self interest, political advantage, revenge, favoritism, bribes, or cowardly appeasement. There is no iniquity with God, no partiality, and no bribery. Therefore there must be none in those who judge under Him.
This is also why civil authority is a high and serious calling. Temporal government, when rightly exercised, is a service to God and a blessing to society. A righteous judge restrains evil, protects the innocent, and maintains order. An unrighteous judge turns law into a weapon and makes society unstable.
Psalm 82:5, God Exposes the Weakness of the Unjust Judges
Psalm 82:5, “They know not, neither will they understand, they walk on in darkness, all the foundations of the earth are out of course.”
God exposes the condition of these unjust rulers. “They know not, neither will they understand.” Their problem is not merely lack of information. It is moral blindness. They do not love truth, and therefore they do not understand justice. In Scripture, men are often said not to know what they refuse to love, practice, or submit to.
These judges may have thought themselves wise. They may have been educated, influential, and honored by men. Yet God says they do not know and do not understand. High office does not guarantee wisdom. A man can hold authority and still be a fool before God.
The verse continues, “they walk on in darkness.” Darkness in Scripture often represents ignorance, evil, confusion, and separation from God’s truth. These judges are not standing in the light of God’s justice. They are walking in darkness while making decisions that affect others. That is dangerous. A blind man stumbling alone is one thing. A blind judge guiding society is far worse.
The result is massive, “all the foundations of the earth are out of course.” When justice is corrupted, society shakes. The foundations of earthly order are moral and legal. If rulers favor the wicked, abandon the poor, ignore the fatherless, and pervert judgment, then ordinary people lose stability. Trust collapses. Wicked men become bold. The weak become fearful. Law becomes uncertain. The ground beneath society begins to move.
This is why justice matters so deeply to God. Injustice is not a small administrative failure. It attacks the foundations of human order. A nation cannot remain stable when its judges walk in darkness.
There are three dangers here. First, ignorance, “they know not.” Second, incompetent and corrupt action, “they walk on in darkness.” Third, social collapse, “all the foundations of the earth are out of course.” A society that forgets God and corrupts justice will eventually become unstable.
B. God Sentences the Judges
Psalm 82:6 through Psalm 82:7, God Pronounces Judgment on the Unjust Judges
Psalm 82:6, “I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the most High.”
Psalm 82:7, “But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.”
God reminds the judges of their dignity and their limit. “I have said, Ye are gods.” Their office is real. God Himself acknowledges that they hold delegated authority. Judges and rulers exercise something of God’s authority in ordering society, determining cases, punishing evil, and protecting the innocent. This establishes the legitimacy of civil authority.
Yet this same line also limits them. They are “gods” only by office, not by nature. They are delegates, not sovereigns. They act under God, not above Him. They must reflect His justice, not replace it with their own pride.
The verse continues, “and all of you are children of the most High.” This can be understood in the broad sense that all human beings are created by God and made in His image. Paul used similar language when speaking to the Athenians. Acts 17:28, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being, as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” Acts 17:29, “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”
Human judges must remember both their own humanity and the humanity of those before them. The poor, fatherless, afflicted, and needy are not disposable. They are made in the image of God. When judges deny justice to them, they treat God’s image bearers as less than human.
At the same time, Scripture also teaches that not all men are children of God in the saving, covenantal, redemptive sense. Jesus told unbelieving religious leaders, John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do, he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Therefore Psalm 82:6 should not be used to teach universal salvation or universal spiritual sonship. It speaks of human dignity and delegated authority under God.
Verse 7 brings the humbling sentence, “But ye shall die like men.” These judges may be called gods because of office, but they remain mortal. They will age, weaken, die, be buried, decay, and face judgment like every other man. Their robes, titles, guards, wealth, reputation, and authority cannot save them from death.
The verse continues, “and fall like one of the princes.” Princes fall. Kings fall. Magistrates fall. Judges fall. Every earthly office ends. Death strips men of title and brings them before God. The unjust judge who terrified others will himself stand before the Judge of all the earth.
This is the corrective to pride in office. Authority should make a man humble, not arrogant. The higher the office, the greater the accountability. To abuse authority is to invite judgment from the One who gave it.
Psalm 82:8, A Prayer for God to Exercise His Perfect Judgment
Psalm 82:8, “Arise, O God, judge the earth, for thou shalt inherit all nations.”
The psalm ends with a prayer, “Arise, O God, judge the earth.” Human judges have failed. They have judged unjustly, favored the wicked, neglected the poor, and walked in darkness. Therefore Asaph appeals to God Himself. If earthly courts fail, the heavenly court does not. God must arise and judge the earth.
This is both a plea and a prophecy. It asks God to do what human rulers refuse to do. It also looks forward to the day when God’s perfect justice will be manifested over all the earth. God’s jurisdiction is universal. He is not merely the Judge of Israel. He is the Judge of all nations.
The final line says, “for thou shalt inherit all nations.” The nations belong to God by right of creation, providence, and final kingdom authority. This inheritance ultimately belongs to the Messiah. Psalm 2:7, “I will declare the decree, the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” Psalm 2:8, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalm 2:9, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Jesus Christ is the final righteous Judge and King. Acts 17:31, “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Revelation 19:15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Revelation 19:16, “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Psalm 82 therefore gives a clear doctrine of authority and judgment. Earthly rulers are appointed by God, but they are accountable to God. Their authority is real, but limited. They must defend the poor, fatherless, afflicted, and needy. They must deliver the vulnerable from the wicked. When they fail, society becomes unstable. When they exalt themselves, they must remember that they will die like men. The final hope is not in corrupt courts or unstable governments, but in the LORD Himself, who will judge the earth and inherit all nations.
