Psalm 82 - God stands in the assembly of God
v1 - "God standing in the assembly of God" refers to God incarnated in Christ standing in the temple among the leaders of God's people on earth. If God was judging in the heavens, He would be sitting, not standing. The word "stand" here is not the usual word "amad" but "natsab" in passive form. It means God was appointed to stand in the assembly of God.
"Within" is literally "in the inward parts of". Christ is judging in the congregation of God, judging within the inward parts of the gods.
v2-4 - These 3 verses tell what the God in verse 1 is judging in the assembly of God within the gods.
This was the message of almost every prophet and of Jesus also.
Jesus rebuked the Jewish leaders for this (i.e. Matt 23:23; Mark 12:40), but much more, He did these righteous deeds Himself (i.e. Luke 7:12-15). Even more, by His death and resurrection, He saves us out of the hand of the wicked one, Satan.
v6 - The 1st 1/2 of this verse is to the Jewish rulers, "I, even I had said, You are gods". He had called them gods in 82:1, and probably in Exo 21:6; 22:8-9, 28.
God called the Jewish leaders gods to let them know the seriousness of their responsibility.
The Lord only quoted the 1st 1/2 of this verse in John 10:34. This indicates that only this 1st part pertained to the Jewish rulers. Jesus did not quote the 2nd 1/2 of the verse because it did not apply to them, even though it made Jesus' point even better.
The 2nd part of the verse is the New Testament dispensation. Through Jesus's death and resurrection everyone in the assembly of God becomes a son of the Most High, sharing God's life and nature as Jesus' brother ( Jn 1:12-13; Heb 2:11-12; 2 Pet 1:3-4). To be a son of the Most High is much higher than to be a "god". To be a "god" here is to represent God with His authority ( Exo 4:16; 7:1) as angels do ( Ps 8:5; Heb 2:7).
In the Old Testament it was not "all of you" but only the rulers. In the NT it is all God's people who are sons of God ( Heb 8:11) .
This is what Jesus speaks in the New Testament in the assembly of God.
v7 - This indicates that the previous verse is about the Jewish rulers. The Lord was offering them eternal life in John 10, but they rejected it. ( John 8:24)
To "fall" is to die a violent death. Though you live as a prince, you will fall as a prince, which is no better than falling as a poor man. Actually it is much worse because the higher you are the harder you fall. (Luke 19:44)
v8 - This Psalm ends with a Prayer for God to arise and judge the earth. "God" here, must be the same God as in verse 1, God incarnated as Christ. This is a prayer for Christ's coming. "God arise" may be a prayer for Christ's resurrection at His 1st coming. "God judge the earth" is a prayer for His 2nd coming. In the view of the Old Testament, Christ's 1st and 2nd coming are viewed to be at the same time without the knowledge of the big time gap between them.
I like that this prayer gives God the reason that God should arise and judge the earth: that He will inherit all the nations. God will get what He wants. We should pray similarly for Jesus to come quickly in His 2nd coming. This prayer tells God what's in it for Him.
Through Jesus' death and resurrection, the New Covenant is opened to all the nations, not the Jews only ( Zech 11:10; Ps 2:7-8; Eph 1:11-18; 3:3-6). It is a great thing for God to inherit the nations. In the Old Testament, the nations had a place, but only the Jewish people were to be God's inheritance. These nations are the New Testament believers. This is covered more in my exposition of Psalm 2:7-8.
All the nations includes Israelites.
-copyright Steve Miller 8/22/2009
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Psalm 82 a psalm through Asaph
mp3 file from hymnal.net
1 1 God standeth in the assembly,
the assembly of God where He
judges within the gods, does He,
judges within the gods.
Judges within the gods,
judges within the gods,
the assembly of God where He
judges within the gods.
2 2 How long will ye judge unjustly,
and wicked persons ye carry?
How long ye judge unrighteously
and the wicked carry?
And the wicked carry?
And the wicked carry?
How long ye judge unrighteously
and the wicked carry?
<Selah>
3 3 Judge the poor and the fatherless.
To meek and needy do justice.
4 Rescue those who are in distress.
Save from the wicked's hand.
Save from the wicked's hand.
Save from the wicked's hand.
Rescue the poor and afflicted.
Save from the wicked's hand.
4 5 They know not, neither do discern.
In darkness they walk on and on.
Moved are all the earth's foundations.
6 I have said, Ye are gods.
I have said, Ye are gods.
I have said, Ye are gods.
Moved are all the earth's foundations.
I have said, Ye are gods.
5 All you'll be sons of the Most High.
7 Like human beings, you'll surely die.
Like princes you will fall from high.
8 Arise God, Judge the earth.
Arise God, Judge the earth.
Arise God, Judge the earth
for You'll inherit all nations.
Arise God, Judge the earth.
Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
Mark 12:40 who devour widows` houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation."
Luke 7:12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.
13 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."
14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!"
15 The dead man sat up and began to speak. And {Jesus} gave him back to his mother.
John 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind . 40 Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, We are not blind also, are we? 41 Jesus said to them, If you were blind , you would not have sin; but now that you say, We see; your sin remains.
12:35 Jesus then said to them, The light is still among you a little while. Walk while you have the light so that darkness may not overcome you; and he who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe into the light, so that you may become sons of light. Jesus said these things, and He went away and was hidden from them. 37 But though He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe into Him, 38 That the word of the prophet Isaiah which he said might be fulfilled, ``Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'' 39 For this reason they could not believe, because again Isaiah said, 40 `He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, that they might not see with their eyes and understand with their heart and turn, and I will heal them.'' 41 These things said Isaiah because he saw His glory and spoke concerning Him. 42 Nevertheless even many of the rulers believed into Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 For they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.
46 I have come as a light into the world, that every one who believes into Me would not remain in darkness .
1:9 This was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, yet those who were His own did not receive Him.
3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. 20 For every one who practices evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his works be reproved. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be manifested that they are wrought in God.
8:12 Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness , but shall have the light of life.
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light; 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. If then the light that is in you is darkness , how great is the darkness ! 24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
15:14 Let them be. They are blind guides of the blind ; and if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.
23:16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound. 17 Fools and blind men, which is greater, the gold or the temple which sanctifies the gold? 18 And, Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift which is upon it, he is bound. 19 Blind men, which is greater, the gift or the altar which sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who swears by the altar swears by it and by all the things upon it; 21 And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by Him who dwells in it; 22 And he who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it. 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth of the mint and the anise and the cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law--justice and mercy and faithfulness. But these you should have done and not neglected the others. 24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat but swallow the camel! 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but inwardly they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and the dish so that their outside also may become clean.
Luke 11:34 The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is dark. 35 Watch out therefore that the light which is in you is not darkness .
22:53 While I was with you day by day in the temple, you did not stretch out your hands against Me. But this is your hour and the authority of darkness .
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelievers that the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine on them.
Ephesians 6:12 For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness , against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies.
1 John 2:8 Yet again a new commandment I am writing to you, which is true in Him and in you because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 He who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him; 11 But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, I am wealthy and have become rich and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
Matthew 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was split in two from top to bottom, and the earth was shaken and the rocks were split, 52 And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection and entered into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that happened, became greatly frightened, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
28:1 Now late on the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake , for an angel of the Lord descended out of heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
Matthew 16:1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked Him to show them a sign out of heaven. 2 But He answered and said to them, When evening falls, you say, There will be fair weather, for the sky is red; 3 And in the morning, It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and gloomy. The face of the sky you know how to discern , but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
Luke 12:56 Hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the earth and of the sky. How is it then that you do not discern this time? 57 And why do you not judge also of yourselves what is right?
19:42 Saying, If you knew in this day, even you, the things that are for your peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a rampart before you, and will encircle you, and will press you in on every side, 44 And they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave a stone upon a stone in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation .
Hebrews 7:12 For since the priesthood is transferred, of necessity there comes into being a transfer of law also.
18 For there is, on the one hand, the setting aside of the preceding commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness 19 (For the law perfected nothing), and, on the other hand, the bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry inasmuch as He is also the Mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them He says, "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, and I will consummate a new covenant upon the house of Israel and upon the house of Judah, 9 Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will impart My laws into their mind, and on their hearts I will inscribe them; and I will be God to them, and they will be a people to Me. 11 And they shall by no means each teach his fellow citizen and each his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for all will know Me from the little one to the great one among them. 12 For I will be propitious to their unrighteousnesses, and their sins I shall by no means remember anymore.'' 13 In saying, A new covenant, He has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and growing decrepit is near to disappearing.
Exodus 21:6 Then his master shall bring him unto the gods; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
22:8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the gods, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. 9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the gods; and whom the gods shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
John 10:33 The Jews answered Him, We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a man, are making Yourself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, "I said, You are gods''? 35 If He said they were gods, to whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken, 36 Do you say of Him whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God?
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name, 13 Who were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Hebrews 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers , 12 Saying, "I will declare Your name to My brothers ; in the midst of the church I will sing hymns of praise to You.''
2 Peter 1:3 Seeing that His divine power has granted to us all things which relate to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and virtue, 4 Through which He has granted to us precious and exceedingly great promises that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature , having escaped the corruption which is in the world by lust.
Exodus 4:16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
Psalm 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visit him? 5 For thou have made him a little lower than the gods, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Hebrews 2:6 For one has solemnly testified somewhere, saying, "What is man, that You bring him to mind? Or the son of man, that You care for him? 7 You have made Him a little inferior to the angels; You have crowned Him with glory and honor ...
John 10:28 And I give to them eternal life , and they shall by no means perish forever, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (see exposition here)
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we were designated as an inheritance , having been predestinated according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 That we would be to the praise of His glory who have first hoped in Christ. 13 In whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Him also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 Who is the pledge of our inheritance unto the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory. 15 Therefore I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and your love to all the saints, 16 Do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him, 18 The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
3:3 That by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I have written previously in brief, 4 By which, in reading it, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ, 5 Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in spirit, 6 That in Christ Jesus the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body and fellow partakers of the promise through the gospel,
John 8:24 I said therefore to you, that ye shall die in your sins; for unless ye shall believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Luke 19:44 and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children in thee; and shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou knewest not the season of thy visitation.
-copyright Steve Miller 8/22/2009
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