A call for justice – Psalm 82 

I wonder how long it will be until God calls the justice systems in our western nations to account. And just so they know what to expect when he does, there’s a Psalm explaining exactly what God is ticked off at – in all judges, including those God assigned as judges in the spirit realm (the meaning of “gods” in Psalm 82:1?) 

Human or spirit, verse 1, “God calls the judges into his courtroom” (The Message). So the first point all judges need to note is: they are not the ultimate authority. They can be called to account by a court far superior to theirs, that “puts all the judges in the dock” (verse 1).

So please picture yourselves, dear judges, in the dock with God presiding as your judge. And he’s not a happy judge either. He yells at you, “Enough,” or perhaps to get the point across more personally: I, God, have had enough of you miserable specimens, because, verse 2, “You’ve corrupted justice long enough.” And fittingly, a revealing book just came out with the title, “Justice corrupted,” describing our present day arrogant judges and lawless prosecutors intimidating and silencing anyone standing in the way of their agenda, including distraught parents speaking up for their children. 

To which God says, “You’re here (all those of you involved in the justice system) to defend the defenceless, to make sure that underdogs get a fair break, to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them,” verses 3-4.    

“That’s what I commissioned you judges for, each one of you, to be my personal deputies,” verse 6. “But you’ve betrayed your commission,” so – and here comes God’s indictment of these “Ignorant judges,” as he calls them in verse 5 – “you’re now stripped of your rank, busted.” 

To which Asaph, the author of Psalm 82, writes: “O God, give them their just desserts.” Give them what they deserve. Or as another translation phrases verse 8: “Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.” In other words, we’re trusting you, God, to be the judge of those responsible for taking care of us, since all nations are under your jurisdiction.

So thanks for the reminder, Asaph, that God sees all, and there is a point in time when he calls corrupt judges to account. And if not now, then for certain on the day God has set aside in Acts 17:31, “when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed,” the risen Son of God.