What is the meaning of Psalm 82:6? I have said • The speaker is God Himself, reminding the earthly leaders that His word, not human opinion, is final. • Psalm 82 opens with, “God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods” (v. 1). The scene is a courtroom, and the Judge is addressing the judges. • Whenever Scripture records God’s direct declaration, it carries absolute authority (Isaiah 46:10; Numbers 23:19). • The phrase underscores both accountability and privilege: those addressed have received their roles from the Sovereign Lord (Daniel 4:17; Romans 13:1). You are gods • “Gods” here refers to human judges vested with God-given authority, not to literal deities. The same term is used of magistrates in Exodus 22:28, where Israel is warned, “You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people”. • Jesus cites this verse to defend His own divine mission: “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—how then do you say of the One whom the Father sanctified… ‘You blaspheme’?” (John 10:34-36). • God delegates real, though limited, authority. He expects those who bear it to reflect His justice, compassion, and truth (Deuteronomy 1:17; 2 Chronicles 19:6-7). • Calling them “gods” highlights the seriousness of their office; their verdicts shape human lives and reveal—or distort—God’s character to the nation. You are all sons of the Most High • “Sons” in the Old Testament can denote representatives, heirs, or followers (Deuteronomy 14:1). These leaders stand as God’s appointed representatives on earth. • The title “Most High” stresses God’s unrivaled supremacy (Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 47:2). By linking the judges to the “Most High,” the psalm underscores both their exalted position and their utter dependence on Him. • With sonship comes responsibility. Just as a good son mirrors his father’s heart, so judges must mirror God’s righteousness (Micah 6:8; Proverbs 31:8-9). • Yet verse 7 warns, “But like mortals you will die, and like rulers you will fall”. Privilege without faithfulness ends in judgment. summary Psalm 82:6 acknowledges that earthly judges carry God-delegated authority—“gods” and “sons of the Most High” by office, not by nature. God Himself has said it, establishing both their dignity and their accountability. Their task is to administer justice in line with the character of the Most High, remembering that the Supreme Judge will one day call every lesser judge to account. |
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