SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 – ‘GODS’

READ: Ps. 82:1–8: … Arise, O God, judge the earth …

Just as kings and heads of state are to govern the land on behalf of the Lord God, serving Him in their office, so judges are also called to administer justice as God requires, according to His Word. Because of their office and calling they are here called ‘gods’ or ‘sons of the Most High.’ They themselves are not divine. This applies especially to judges who favour the wicked through corrupt judgments at the expense of the innocent. God will judge them for this.

The Lord Jesus refers to this psalm in John 10:34–36, where He addresses the Jewish leaders as ‘gods’. This is after speaking the parable of the Good Shepherd. They too are ‘gods,’ called to acknowledge Him as the One sent by the Father, but instead they seek to stone Him.

In this psalm the LORD, through the psalmist, calls them to repentance: ‘How long?’ He also points them to the right way: ‘Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked’ (v.4). As in several other psalms, the poor, the needy, and the afflicted represent the humble believers who, precisely because of their faith, are oppressed by the wicked. In the book of Job we read that Job, in defending himself, presents a very different example of acting according to God’s will (Job 29:12–13, 16–17).

In pronouncing His judgment, the LORD declares that these ‘gods’ walk about in darkness. They refuse to carry out their office in the light of His Word by speaking the truth and administering justice, so that society may live in peace to the honour of God. Instead, they walk in darkness (1 John 2:11), with the result that the church suffers greatly. But God’s judgment upon these exalted rulers ends in a severe sentence: ‘You shall die like men’ (v.7).

In response, the psalm concludes with the prayer: ‘Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations.’ Article 37 of the Belgic Confession says concerning this final judgment, for the comfort of the oppressed: ‘Then the cause which is now condemned by many judges and magistrates as heretical and ungodly will be known to be the cause of the Son of God.’

Who is being treated unjustly in our own day?

Sing: Ps. 82:1,4