A psalm of Asaph.
Asaph wrote this song when he was a Levitical priest during the time of King David. This song would be sung at the Jewish festivals. This song is a stern warning to wicked politicians.
82:1 God stands in the assembly of El; in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.
The Hebrew word for “God” is אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים (elohim), meaning the triune-Creator God. He stands in the assembly of אֵ֑ל (el), meaning the single, mighty God. This first verse shows the triunity and unity of God. God is three distinct personalities, but He is also one God. Man is body, soul, and spirit, made in the image of the Triune God (but also created in the unity of God).
The Triune and Mighty One God is standing in the assembly of אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים (elohim), meaning human judges, kings, legislators, politicians, rulers, and presidents. God the Great Judge, presides over these lesser human judges. Human judges/rulers on earth are judging in the place of God, Their judgments are supposed to be the same judgment that God would make if He was sitting as a judge on the bench in a human courtroom. Whenever a judge takes a bribe or deals unjustly with another individual, then he is dishonoring the Judge of judges who placed him in that position.
In this first verse, God the Eternal Judge of judges is judging the corrupt earthly judges/rulers of history. This event will take place at the Great White Throne Judgment.
82:2 He says, “How long will you make unjust legal decisions and show favoritism to the wicked? (Selah)
God asked these wicked rulers and judges how long they would keep making corrupt laws and protect those who were guilty? The psalmist asked the congregation to meditate and think about this spiritual concept.
82:3 Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!
These kings and judges were appointed by God to defend these who were poor, fatherless, oppressed, and suffering, but instead they were exploiting them.
82:4 Rescue the poor and needy! Deliver them from the power of the wicked!
These rulers and judges were supposed to use their god-given political power to rescue the poor and needy. They were supposed to rescue them from the wicked people. Instead, they took bribes from the wicked people and made unjust decisions.
82:5 They neither know nor understand. They stumble around in the dark, while all the foundations of the earth crumble.
These rulers and judges were void of Bible doctrine, so this caused them to become biblically ignorant. They stumbled around in darkness, making human viewpoint decisions which aid the satanic world system. Their human viewpoint decisions were causing their governments to crumble.
82:6 I thought, ‘You are gods; all of you are sons of the Most High.’
God appointed these rulers and judges to make laws and administer justice just as they were in the place of God. They were God’s representatives on earth.
When God gives the people of a nation the privilege of electing their own government, then it is crucial that the electorate grounds itself in the entire counsel of the word of God. The electorate should only vote for men who have mastered Bible doctrine. Otherwise, they will elect godless liberals into office who will make human viewpoint decisions which will bring the nation to ruin.
82:7 Yet you will die like mortals; you will fall like all the other rulers.”
If a ruler or judge does not master and apply Bible doctrine while making laws and judging from the bench, then they will fall violently like other rulers before them. Most of the evil rulers of the world fell by violent means. They were either assassinated or killed in battle.
82:8 Rise up, O God, and execute judgment on the earth! For you own all the nations.
Asaph asked God to rise up and execute judgment upon these wicked rulers and justices. God, not the rulers and judges, is the One who owns the nations.