23.244 | Beware Not To Abuse Your Delegated Power | Psalms 82:1-8 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word for Today

12 Oct 2023

God has taken his place in the divine council;

    in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2 “How long will you judge unjustly

    and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;

    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,

    they walk about in darkness;

    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, “You are gods,

    sons of the Most High, all of you;

7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,

    and fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;

    for you shall inherit all the nations!

-Psa 82:1-8 ESV

BEWARE NOT TO ABUSE YOUR DELEGATED POWER

This psalm is written to discredit all those who act unjustly in their position as God’s representatives in administering justice. Sarcastically, they are even called gods (v. 1,6) Who are these people? They are God’s delegated authorities affirmed in the New Testament by Jesus in John 10:34 and Paul [Rom 13:1,4,6), respectively. They are to face God’s judgment someday.

However, instead of rescuing the helpless poor from the powerful rich who enslave them, they show favor to those with influence and money (v.1-4). 

God has taken his place in the divine council;

    in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2 “How long will you judge unjustly

    and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;

    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

As a result,  they are blind to all justice, truth, and mercy. Thereby, the society becomes unstable (v.5). 

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,

    they walk about in darkness;

    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

They may have high rank, but it will not save them on the day when they themselves are judged. They will be destroyed along with other wicked people (v.6-8).

6 I said, “You are gods,

    sons of the Most High, all of you;

7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,

    and fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;

    for you shall inherit all the nations!

As the old adage says, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This is an evidence of the depravity of man. The problem isn’t the granting of the authority but the unregenerated heart that has it. The access to power would enhance, even fuel,  the pride until it becomes extremely unbearable. Indeed, “when the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”[Prov 29:2] 

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