The Daily Encounter
"Psalm 82"
1 God presides in the great assembly;
he renders judgment among the “gods”:
2 “How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 “The ‘gods’ 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 mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.”
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance.
Psalm 82 ESV
After reading Psalm 82 I was immediately struck by how this Old Testament scripture is similar to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus came with a radical message that shook the religious and political establishment. No doubt it was an uncomfortable message to hear if you were among the elite, such as the Pharisees, many of whom were focused on strict observance of traditional law but were also known to be shallow and hypocrites when it came to loving and serving others. No doubt the Pharisees lived in their comfort bubble and lived a sheltered life (these are broad generalizations). Jesus preached an incredible message of love, tolerance, and forgiveness, a message full of mercy and grace, and he specifically targeted social groups that were sick, poor, marginalized, widowed, and known to be sinners, such as the tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus didn't only hang with the upper class groups - the wealthy, powerful, popular, white-collared professionals. We can all imagine what this would would look like today if Jesus walked our streets. I imagine he'd always go the extra mile to show compassion among people groups that are often overlooked in our society. He'd take time out of his day to care for others. He'd be focused on each individual and connect in a heart-felt way. He'd intentionally seek after these crowds and preach the gospel along the way.
We too need to be on a social justice crusade in our daily walk with Jesus. We are called to love everyone, just as the song Jesus Loves the Little Children says, "...red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight...". We are all equal, and we all need salvation through his grace and our faith. Psalm 82 is a wonderful Old Testament throwback to how Jews were called to act in a pre-Jesus world and it demonstrates how God is 100% committed to justice for the most vulnerable.
Psalms 82 also references the "gods" in verse 1 and again in verses 5-7. Who exactly are these "gods"? Well, it doesn't say exactly, but suffice it to say it's meant to include the rulers of society, including the politically elected, religious elite, and the "1%" (again, generalizations, and not meant to include literally everyone within these broad categories). The one true and everlasting God wants us to confront "the gods" over their injustices (versus 2-4) and verse 7 remind us of the temporary nature of earthly power and ultimately mortality for all; they "will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler."
I pray we all take this heart and implement it in a very real way. Let us see everyone as equals, show no favoritism, and keep our eyes and ears open for opportunity to reach the sick and forgotten. We have the power to express God's love in a profound way. Amen.
-Dave Gorski
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