First, I would like to note the context of this psalm is often interpreted in different ways. In the ESV (the translation I typically use), the first line of this psalm is “God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment”. The divine council evokes the image of the divine beings God created to rule alongside him. As we know, God created humans to share in his authority over the earth, and similarly in the heavens he shares in his authority with divine beings. Like humans, some of these divine beings rebelled against God and continue to spread evil and wickedness in our world. Paul often refers to these beings as “authorities”, “spiritual forces”, “elemental spirits”, etc. One interpretation is when Psalm 82 speaks of these gods, or Elohim, the psalmist is referring to these divine beings. Others have argued these “gods” are simply human judges. From my research, I am inclined to tend towards the former interpretation. All this to say, the main point is God has given authority to this group to rule, and they are being unjust. Thus we suffer from the influence of unjust rulers, divine and human alike.
This psalm can then become a prayer of lament for our community, as we observe the injustice done to the weak, lowly, poor and oppressed. We relate to the psalmist at the end, pleading with God to ultimately judge the world, as He is the only one who can reconcile these wrongs. We can take comfort in the fact that God sees us, hears those who cry out to him, and seeks to right the wrongs done by unjust rulers. We are reminded that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Thus our focus is not to create (human) enemies of those who do injustice, but to be examples of a better way to live, living as kingdom citizens, apprentices of Jesus, as those whom he has reconciled to himself. We are to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8), especially if we are ones who hold any form of authority over others. This psalm allows us to acknowledge the existence of injustice in our world and lament with those who suffer. It motivates us to live not in ignorance or darkness, as these corrupt rulers do, but as salt and light as Jesus calls to in Matthew 5. We are left with hope, as God will “inherit all the nations”. We look forward to the time when Jesus returns and his kingdom will come in fullness.
Come, Lord Jesus!
- Christine Luter