Psalm 82
God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”: “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance. Psalm 82 (NIV)
The part of this Psalm that really stands out to me is a basic question. What separates God from all of the other “gods”? Verse 1 clearly defines God’s role in the universe and verses 2-4 offer the distinction between our God and other “gods”. That distinction and the ultimate fate of these “gods” is further clarified in verses 5-7. But is that all?
Clearly this Psalm was written at a point in time when powerful rulers of large regions or kingdoms thought of themselves as “gods” and expected to be treated as such. They spread fear among their peoples and used this fear and whatever other means necessary to retain their power and control. They controlled every thought and action. And their views and opinions were the only ones that mattered.
By now I assume that you are thinking what I am thinking. Modern times are not all that different from the ancient world. We still have world leaders, sports and entertainment figures, and even religious leaders that behave like “gods” and expect to be treated that way. And the amazing thing is that so many people continue to enable them and allow this to happen.
As Christians, however, we must rise above this. We must take the opportunities presented to us to set the right example and recognize and follow the one true God. We must do our part to defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed; rescue the weak and the needy; and deliver them from the hand of the wicked. These are the actions of our God. And they must be ours as well. As verse 7 states, “gods” are mere mortals and will fall like every other ruler.
Our God, full of love and grace, will not fall. Our God endures.
Join me in following Him.
Thanks be to God!
Questions for Reflection:
- What other “gods” are present in today’s world and how are they getting people to follow them?
- Does this differ from the ancient world?
- How would you define your relationship with God?
- Are you applying what God has given you to helping others?
- How are you helping others grow in their faith and relationship with God?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please help us to look to you for the guidance, inspiration, love and hope that we seek. Help us as well to truly appreciate your gifts of love, grace and your Son Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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