| Psalm 82 — God's Demand for Justice
Throughout the Old Testament, the call to bring justice into the daily life of the nation of Israel was central to God's mandate to its leaders or "judges." These judges would be referred to as "gods" or "mighty ones" because, above all else, they were to represent God's demand that the vulnerable in society would not receive unjust treatment. Cultures change, but one thing has remained the same since the dawn of civilization. Those who are at a disadvantage in society often are not given equal justice. As those who claim to be sons and daughters of God through Jesus Christ, it must be our mandate that fighting for justice for those who cannot fight for themselves is one of the tests of real faith. Psalm 83 — When God Will Not Defend Us
From its origin, Israel has often found itself the target of aggression from their neighboring nations. Their confidence lay in being a nation that God Himself had birthed and called to witness to the entire world. To attack Israel was to attack God. The enemies of Israel were also enemies of God. Based upon this relationship, Israel could confidently expect God to rise up and defend them. However, when Israel broke their covenant with God and began to follow the wickedness and idolatry of their neighbors, God withdrew Himself. They were on their own. This same principle is true for the "church" in general, as well as each Christian. When we forsake a genuine relationship of love for God and His Word, we soon discover how "nothing" we are apart from Him and how much bondage and oppression fills the vacuum that God once filled. Psalm 84 — The Pleasures of God
In this psalm, the joy of worshiping God is elevated to its rightful place in the heart of every true believer. For those who know God and whose hearts are after Him, time given in undivided fellowship and worship is bliss. One of the reasons this time with God is so desirable is the tangible result that each worshiper enjoys. Grace and glory become our portion, and unexpected good follows us as we walk on God's path of life. For those who experience the richness found only in God, they become living proof that the person who knows and trusts in God is genuinely and richly blessed. Psalm 85 — The Kiss of Righteousness and Peace
This psalm opens a portal for us to the amazing way in which God's holiness and love meet within the soul of a believer. Like Israel, God's people find ourselves turning our backs on God at some point in our lives (v. 2). This result is sin that creates alienation not only with God but also with each other, and even ourselves. The loss of God's holiness leaves its lonely vacuum within our souls and we unavoidably cry for revival and renewal. Some will turn to the endless array of manmade solutions that inevitably bring more manmade problems. Others will turn to God. What they find always amazes them. The same God who is also full of grace and mercy meets the God whose holiness they so thoroughly violated. God's righteous demands are met by His offer of peace, which is offered solely based upon His mercy. There, within the vacuum of an alienated soul, holiness and grace meet; righteousness and peace kiss (v. 10). The life of revival and renewal is sparked and a new life is begun. | |||
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Psalm 82 A Psalm of Asaph1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; 2 How long will you judge unjustly, 3 Defend the poor and fatherless; 4 Deliver the poor and needy; 5 They do not know, nor do they understand; 6 I said, "You are gods, 7 But you shall die like men, 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; 1 Do not keep silent, O God! 2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, 4 They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; 9 Deal with them as with Midian, 10 Who perished at En Dor, 11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, 12 Who said, "Let us take for ourselves 13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust, 14 As the fire burns the woods, 15 So pursue them with Your tempest, 16 Fill their faces with shame, 17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; 18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, 1 How lovely is Your tabernacle, 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, 4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, 7 They go from strength to strength; 8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; 9 O God, behold our shield, 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; 12 O LORD of hosts, 1 LORD, You have been favorable to Your land; 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; 3 You have taken away all Your wrath; 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, 5 Will You be angry with us forever? 6 Will You not revive us again, 7 Show us Your mercy, LORD, 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, 10 Mercy and truth have met together; 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, 12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good; 13 Righteousness will go before Him, | |||
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| Psalm 82 For some people, this psalm presents a "theological" problem. We are used to the word g-o-d referring only to the one, true God. But occasionally the poets of Israel would call the pagan deities "gods," and then show how they are powerless and unrighteous in comparison to Israel's God. In this psalm, these pagan gods are pictured as subordinate beings to whom God had delegated the oversight of foreign nations. Now the true God arises in the divine council to rebuke them for injustice and judge them. He strips them of their status and reduces them to mere mortals, and He will ultimately take over the direct rulership of the world. v. 1 Asaph – The chief Levite musician under King David. "Psalms of Asaph" later came to refer to a type of song or a particular collection of psalms. God stands – A sign of authority and power; judges stood up to pass sentence. v. 2 How long will you judge unjustly – This is the accusation brought against the false gods: they defend injustice and show partiality to the wicked. v. 3 Defend the poor – This is what a real God should be doing, says the poet: defending the weak and giving justice to the needy. v. 5 They do not know – But the pagan gods are blind and unintelligent; they are unable to declare what is right and wrong. the foundations of the earth are unstable – The misrule of these "gods" agitates the very foundations of the world. v. 7 But you shall die like men – Now, says the poet, they will be reduced to the status of mortal men and die like human beings. v. 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit the nations – The psalm closes with a prayer for God to exercise His lawful jurisdiction over all nations. He shall, says the psalmist, take direct rulership over the entire world some day. Psalm 83This is a community lament, in which Israel grieves at the hatred and aggression shown against her by the surrounding nations. v. 1 Do not be still…do not hold your peace…do not be still, O God – Israel pleads with God to act and defend her. v. 2 those who hate you have lifted up their head – Lifting one's head in the presence of the king was a sign of immense arrogance. v. 3 crafty counsel – All of Israel's enemies throughout history are pictured as united in a single conspiracy to destroy the nation. v. 6 tents of Edom – These nations, with the exception of Assyria, were all neighbors of Israel. Edom…the Ishmaelites…Moab – In addition to being neighbors, these nations had ancestral ties to Israel: Moab and Edom were descendents of Lot, Abraham's nephew; the Ishmaelites were descended from Abraham's first son, Isaac's half-brother. Hagrites – a desert tribe that lived in the desert to the east of the Jordan River, beyond Moab and Ammon v. 7 Gebal – Probably the Phoenecian city of Byblos, located in modern Lebanon. Amalek – The Amalekites were among the most bitter enemies of Israel throughout her history. It is possible that Haman, the evil counselor of the Persian king described in the book of Esther who tried to exterminate the Jewish people, was a descendent of the ruling house of the Amalekites (1 Sam. 15:8, Es. 3). v. 9 Deal with them – The song asks God to destroy Israel's current enemies as He did those in the past (Judges 4-8 describe the historical background). v. 16 That they may seek Your Name – Israel reminds God that it is His Name that is to be exalted, so that all nations will know that He alone is the ruler over the earth (v. 18). Psalm 84On an instrument of Gath – The "gittith," a musical instrument; perhaps originating from the Philistine city of Gath. the sons of Korah – The "Korahites" were one of the traditional levitical guilds in charge of guarding the gates to the Temple (1 Chr. 9:29). This is a pilgrim song, probably sung by the Israelites as they went up to Temple for one of the three pilgrim feasts. v. 2 tabernacle – dwelling place the courts of the Lord – the courtyards of His Temple in Jerusalem cry out – a joyous call; like "calling" birds (see next verse) the living God – Israel knew her God is the "living God." The idols of the nations are lifeless wood and stone, or demons; but He is "the living God and the everlasting king" (Jer. 10:10) v. 3 the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest – The pilgrims reflect on how fortunate the little birds are that live in the Temple—they are always in the courtyards of the Lord. v. 4 they will still be praising you – The swallows and sparrows are constantly "praising God" with their calls as they flit through the Temple grounds. v. 5 whose heart is set on pilgrimage – Literally "whose heart is set on the highway" (i.e., the pilgrim road leading up to Jerusalem and the Temple). v. 6 the valley of Baca – means weeping; probably a valley on the road to Jerusalem v. 9 our shield…Your anointed – The king was anointed to protect the nation (their "shield"; Ps. 89:18); he also took part in the worship services in the Temple. Nevertheless, the Lord is the true and ultimate "sun and shield" of His people (v. 12), who cares for and protects them. v. 11 no good thing will He withhold – This is not an insurance policy that we will receive everything we want when we walk with God; rather, we can have the confidence that He will ultimately use everything that comes to us in life for our good, no matter how difficult and tragic it may seem (Rom. 8:28). those who walk uprightly – those who live in integrity, consistent with God's plan and purpose for life Psalm 85Title: The Chief Musician – the head of the Levitical singers in the Temple the sons of Korah – The "Korahites" were one of the traditional levitical guilds in charge of guarding the gates to the Temple (1 Chron. 9:29). This is a mourning song of Israel, a lament, reminding God of His past mercies and asking Him for forgiveness and renewal of the nation. v. 1 You have brought back the captivity of Jacob – This psalm is probably from the time after part of Israel returned from Babylonian exile (Haggai 1:5-11). v. 2 You have covered all their sin – For Israel, sin was "covered" by the blood of the sin offering coming "between" their sin and the just wrath of God (v. 3). v. 4 Restore us – The people ask God to now grant forgiveness and restoration. v. 8 what God the Lord will speak – A spokesman for the congregation (probably one of the singers) represents the people in their prayers as they wait for a word of prophecy from God. v. 10 Mercy and truth – The prophet sees in faith how God responds in love on behalf of His people. God's attitude and actions are coupled together in pairs: mercy-truth; righteousness-peace; He shall give that which is good/our land will yield its increase (i.e., the harvest). | |||
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Thank You, Lord, that You care about those society often does not. Thank You that we are able to freely worship You, no matter our income or social status. We pray today to love all of the things that You love, including those who are not in mainstream society. Show us how to love like You do. | |||
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82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
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