Scripture Text (NRSV)
Psalm 82
82:1 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of
the gods he holds judgment:
82:2 "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the
wicked? Selah
82:3 Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of
the lowly and the destitute.
82:4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of
the wicked."
82:5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk
around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
82:6 I say, "You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you;
82:7 nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any
prince."
82:8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations
belong to you!
Comments:
Though I am not preaching on this text, I have been meditating on it
all week. I find it very troubling. I am not surprised that there are
no comments on it here. I wonder if anyone has ever preached on this
psalm. Peg in NY
This is a great Text and since no one is preaching on it this Sunday I
think I will. This is one of the scriptures the New Age movement has
lifted out of context and uses. It will give me a chance to speak to
do some real digging this week. Some times I feel like some of the
stories have been preached to death like the Good Samaratin stroy.
Harold in Alabama
This is a great text displaying the importance of living a life of
justice, of doing justice. Being a just judge, doing justice on behalf
of the poor, the orphan, the widow is important to God.
Quoting Marvin Tate: The artistically crafted Psalm depicts judgment
in the divine realm, but we know as human beings that G does not
intend to be any less vigorous w/us. The responsibility of the gods
are ours...the psalm points us to firmly grounding our religion in the
earthly needs of people. An abstract theology which seeks to separate
itself from human affairs leads to a sentence of death...Psalm 82 says
there is ultimate accountability. G is standing, even now, in the
divine assembly and charges G's agents, divine and human [to do
justice].
What if God's judgment were to come today? Where are the poor, widows,
orphans and powerless being oppressed today? Is it not our calling as
followers of Christ to speak out and act on their behalf? Ken on the
Hudson
This brings to mind the Pledge of Allegiance : with liberty and
justice for all. An interesting reading would be to insert "some" for
"all". How does the church decide who the "all" will be? What folks
don't we offer justice to? Who is not included in our ministries and
missions?
I am beginning to develop a lesson on Psalm 82, and one of the areas
that I a struck by is where is says that "God stands in the
congregation".Authorized Version. In John 7:37-8, it states that In
the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried
saying, If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink. He that
believeth on me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall
flow living water. There is a thirst for justice, and mercy and for
the reign of God, and the "rain" of God upon these people who lack the
strength to exact their own cause. This is Jesus declaring a royal
proclamation. There is also a magnificent reference in 2 Chr 19:6-11
in which Jehosphat places the Levites in position of judges, since
they alone have a knowledge of the most High and they will judge
according to the will and the heart of God.
