You Are Gods (Part 1)

“The maintenance of equity and justice is a prerequisite for the continued existence of the world…. But this message is not limited only to courts. In his own personal life, every Jew is a judge, for his opinions and decisions about people can affect their lives in a thousand different ways.” (from Artscroll Siddur commentary, p. 170)

Psalm 82

God has taken his place in the divine council;

in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

“How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

They have neither knowledge nor understanding,

they walk about in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

I said, “You are gods,

sons of the Most High, all of you;

nevertheless, like men you shall die,

and fall like any prince.”

Arise, O God, judge the earth;

for you shall inherit all the nations!

Psalm 82 is recited during the morning prayer service every Tuesday among observant Jews. It is a weekly reminder that justice and compassion for the weak is on God’s heart. To those responsible to demonstrate God’s heart to the weak, failure is unforgivable. Our Master Jesus used this Psalm as a springboard for some very important teaching to those whose actions toward the needy are harsh or indifferent.

“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment” (Psalm 82:1, ESV). Compare this to the NASB, “God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the  rulers.”  “I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;” (Psalm 82:6).

While the same Hebrew word, elohim (plural), is used in all three places, the English versions translate it in three different ways--as “God” (singular), “gods” (plural), and, in the NASB, “rulers” (plural). Are these “gods” or “rulers” divine beings? If not, why is the same elohim used for them as for God, himself? Also, what is this divine council (ESV) or congregation (NASB)? Is it the host of sons of God (angels) who come before God in Job 1? Maybe it is the great assembly of elders (Sanhedrin) that carried on the work of Moses? Or someone else altogether?

The best answers must come from the authorities who received and studied the Psalms for centuries before Jesus arrived and then passed them to the community of believers. According to the Jewish thought as recorded in the Artscroll Siddur commentary on page 171, the hearts of sincere men are indwelt by God himself so that they can be assured of judging or ruling God’s people with righteousness. They are charged with seeking out all injustice and repairing the damage done. Some of those rulers, however, do not realize the full potential of their charge and are distracted by their own selfishness and prejudice. Those rulers are removed from their positions of authority and God himself steps in to repair the world.

In summary, the “gods” or “rulers” from Psalm 82 are human leaders of God’s people who are gifted with God’s Presence for the purpose of representing and doing God’s work among a people who are oppressed and suffering from the effects of living in a broken world. The term elohim is appropriate for them because they work in God’s name and are, effectively, God in the flesh. At least, until they stop doing God’s work. If self-absorption overtakes them or they become distracted, they become “like men” instead of being like God.

John 10 records an incident where the Jewish religious leaders questioned Jesus. “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly” (John 10:24). Jesus replied that the good works [God-works] he does testify as to who he is. “I and the Father are one” (v. 30). When the Jews picked up stones to stone him, Jesus asked, “For which of [the good works of God] are you going to stone me?” They answered, “It is not for a good work...but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” (vv.32, 33).

Jesus quoted the words of Psalm 82 to them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?” The effect of this quote is twofold. First, according to the psalm, it is entirely appropriate to apply the term “god” (elohim) to humans who are demonstrating God’s indwelling work among the oppressed. In fact, Jesus is God in the flesh. He does not need to stand up and say, “I am God.” The works he does demonstrate that the Presence of God is among them in human flesh.

The second effect of his quote probably angered them the most and precipitated their desire to arrest him. These leaders of God’s people knew that Psalm 82 was a condemnation of rulers who failed in their responsibility to minister to the oppressed. By bringing up the psalm, Jesus indicted them for their selfish disregard for the hungry, the naked, the fatherless, and for their deference to the wicked Roman authorities who kept them in power.

These worthless shepherds (rulers) of lost sheep (Israel) knew the implications of Jesus’ message. Psalm 82 lays it out: God will take away His Presence, the gods will become mere men, and God, himself, will inherit and give justice to the sheep. God in the flesh will show up and minister to the lost.

What we will learn next is that God will pour out his Spirit again. A different group will enjoy His Presence and become ministers of His grace. The time has come for the oppressed of all nations to be comforted.


--Bryan