The Judge (Psalm 82:1)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
5/4/2012 1:04:35 PM
My Worship Time      Focus:  The Judge
Bible Reading & Meditation     Reference:  Psalm 82:1
 Message of the verses:  We will begin this SD by looking at several introductions by different Bible commentators in order to better understand what it is that the Lord has for us from Psalm 82: 
 “«A Psalm of Asaph».  This psalm was written for the use of persons in power, for the instruction of kings and princes, judges and civil magistrates; according to Kimchi, it was written about the times of Jehoshaphat, who appointed new judges throughout the land; those that were before having been very corrupt, to whom he gave a charge agreeably to the purport of this psalm, #2Ch 19:5-7, but it seems rather to be written by Asaph, in the times of David, under a spirit of prophecy, and has respect to the times of Christ, when there was a great corruption among the judges and rulers of the Jews, both civil and ecclesiastic. The Syriac version calls it, "a reproof of the ungodly Jews"; our Lord cites a passage out of it in vindication of himself from their charge of blasphemy, #John 10:34-36.”  (John Gill)
 “This psalm, like Pss. 2 and 58, focuses on the injustices of tyranny.  The psalmist pictures God standing in the assembly of earthly leaders, to whom He has delegated authority, and condemning their injustices.  The final prayer of the psalmist (v.8) is that God Himself will take direct control of the affairs of this world.”  (The John MacArthur Study Bible)
 “In the previous psalm, Asaph described the Lord judging His people during one of the feasts days, but in this psalm it is the judges of the people that He indicts.  (See also 50 and 75.)  The psalmist speaks in verse 1 and announces that the Judge will speak, and in verse 8, Asaph prays that God will bring justice to the whole earth.  Between these statements, the Lord Himself speaks to the judges.”  (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)
The Judge (v.1):  “1 ¶  «A PSALM OF ASAPH.» God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment.”  (ESV)  “1 ¶  God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods.”  (AKJV)
 As we begin to look at this psalm I cannot help but think of Job and in the book of Job we find that Job wanted to go on trial with the Lord, but the Lord did not allow that and instead the Lord showed Job that He was sovereign.  Job was a great man of God and when the Lord spoke to Him he listened which is unlike many of the earthly judges who will not listen to the Lord.
 Isaiah 33:22 says “For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us.”  From this verse we see that God is not only the Judge, but also the Lawgiver, for He is the One who gave His Law to Israel while in the wilderness.  God does not need to have a jury for He is the ultimate Judge of all the earth and He also knows the hearts of all of the people who live on planet earth.  Let’s take a look at two of God’s attributes in order to help us out here.  God is love, and God is just, meaning that God’s justice is perfect.  It is hard for us humans to understand that God is love and just at the same time, for when someone does wrong to us we at times want to get even with them, yet because of God being just He does not get even with those who break His law, He uses His justice either by what happened to Jesus on the cross where the justice of God was fulfilled, or by those who do not accept this loving grace they will have to face the justice of God on their own.
 Dr. Wiersbe writes the following about the “gods” that is seen in verse one.  “The ‘gods’ (vv. 1, 6) are not the false gods of the heathen, for such nonexistent gods are not Jehovah’s judicial representatives on earth.  Nor are these ‘gods’ the holy angels, for angels cannot die (v.7).  The ‘gods’ (elohim) are people who have been given the awesome responsibility of representing the Lord on earth and interpreting and applying His Law.  Jesus made this clear in His quotation of verse six in John 10:34-46.  It is a great responsibility to represent the Lord on earth and seek to execute justice by applying the law correctly.  Civil servants are ‘ministers of the Lord’ and will answer to Him for what they have done (Romans 13).” 
 Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think of a verse in Hebrews that states that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and this gives me great contentment knowing that God, who is the Judge, and the Lawgiver will never change.  The unchangeableness’ of God is a something that surely gives peace to my heart, for I would not want to worship a God who changes His mind.
 My Steps of Faith for Today:  Praise the Lord for His unchangeableness.
5/4/2012 1:37:45 PM