JUDGES JETTISONED? - What an intriguing psalm! While the psalmist acknowledges the gods of Israel’s polytheistic neighbors, Psalm 82 portrays the death of all other gods. In Canaanite religion, the presiding god was El who presumably called the other gods to heavenly convocation. Yet in v. 1, Israel’s God has displaced El and convenes what will be an extraordinary meeting. God judges the judges and indicts and charges them with miscarriages of justice! So the council of the gods is permanently adjourned and God now comes to rule the world.

WHAT IS JUSTICE? - For the God of Israel, the criterion of justice involves what is done for the weak, the orphaned, the destitute, the needy (see Ps. 9:7-9, 18; 10:17-18; 68:5-6; 113:7, etc.). Because the gods have failed to do justice, they are themselves guilty of destroying human life and community as God intends. So they deserve to die (vv. 6-7). [1]

CHRISTIAN PARALLELS: We cannot help but hear in this psalm-especially in v. 8 (Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you)-in terms of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples: "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). [2]

This psalm reminds us of the core of teaching from the Scriptures that God is the One who rules over the earth; and that our allegiance is to God. All other rulers are lesser lights and derivative sources of authority. In light of such a confession, how have we reflected that truth? How have our actions or attitudes disowned the claim that God rules the world-that God judges the judges?

Meditate on the nature of God. What signs do you see of God’s order in creation, in our system of laws, in the caring community of the church? What does it mean to "give justice to the weak" and "maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute?" (v. 3) in our world today? In what ways might God be leading you to build justice in your community?

This psalm presents a great opportunity to reflect on the nature of God’s intention-to bring justice and authentic rightness to the human community.

Call attention to the justice system-focus on some excellent examples and then move to some despicable examples of justices and judgments. Begin not in some

Raise the deep human hunger for authenticity and honesty in the judicial systems of the world.

Move to the text and create an imaginary heavenly court-have the lesser gods (who have caved in to bribery and unjust judgments) sitting around; then have Israel’s God come into the theatre and hold trial on the judges!

Shift once more to God’s intention to bring justice and equity to the communities of the world. How can we also work in tandem with God’s large view of justice? What specific things can we do to help God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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[1] New Interpreter’s Bible IV (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), page 1006.
[2] Ibid, page 1008.