Psalms: The Perfect Magistrate
The Golden Thread • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsThe Lord is disatified with the way the rules to which he has divested his authorty have used their power. He will send his perfect judge, ruler to enheret the earth.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
open this evening to psalm 82
Leaving advent and returning to the golden thread series.
I want to set the stage for this psalm because there is much wrong teaching centered around it,
The author describes many god’s that God addresses,
There have been explanations of this text
God is talking to false god
God is talking to other actual gods
God is addressing earthy rulers
I do not believe we are allowed to interpret this text any other why that Jesus did, in John 10 Jesus cites this psalm and applies it to the earthly leaders of his day.
The reason this is important is because there are many today that do not feel limited to interpret this text as Jesus did and teach that there is a counsel of actual lesser gods in heaven through whom God rules the word.
The problems with such a theological premise abound,
There is a console of wicked rulers in heaven?
God is not directly in control of all things?
There is more then one God? Even postulating lesser deities is a very real denial of a lot of what scripture teaches.
The reason this is import is that we live in a day when human kind is infatuated with its own intelligence and believed self autonomy, and this produces a self reliance to interpret scripture rather then letting scripture interpret scripture.
I will go on record saying there is no other reasonable interpretation of this text than the one Jesus used.
these god’s referenced here are earthly rulers
God appoints men to rule
God told Nebuchadnezzar he has razed him up and he proved it by having him eat grass for 7 years.
God told us that in Romans 13 that he creates the governments “no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Ro 13:1, ESV)
And again, Jesus interpreted this and applied it for us in John 10.
I am to be clear we are not looking at new understanding of this text this even, John Calvin affirms this interpretation in his commentary on this psalm saying.
“As kings, and such as are invested with authority, through the blindness which is produced by pride, generally take to themselves a boundless liberty of action, the Psalmist warns them that they must render an account at the bar of the Supreme Judge, who is exalted above the highest of this world.” [1]
Now that we have built a wall to defend against the wrong interpretation of this text we can read and get into he text itself.
Lets Read
1 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!
May God Bless the Reading of His Holy and Infallible Word
Let’s Pray
Transition
Transition
The Psalmist opens with the line, “God has taken his place in the divine council” (Ps 82:1 ESV). We have already made it clear that to understand this in as a council of supernatural beings leads to all kinds of error and provides the perfect breeding ground for heresy. These are men, rulers and leaders that God has appointed and God is addressing their failure to lead has he commended. Let’s see what God says to these failed rulers in verse 1-4.
Body
Body
Protect the Poor
Protect the Poor
1 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.”
God will judge the rulers, he stands in judgement over them
The Psalmist says, you know God will judge, how can you act like this?
We have two contracting behaviors,
In justice and favor to the wicked
justice to the weak and the fatherless
The wicked feel comfortable,
This about this in our world,
Corporation walk all over the little guys,
The vaccine makes granted complete immunity, in the name of public health of course.
What can the little guy do?
The two picture here stand ing for the full range of right leadership that God has commended.
Verse 4 is what the leader should do because they know God is judges.
Again the picture there is of the full rang of right leadership.
The application here is for our government.
When we speak to, vote for, our leaders there are God given responsibilities that they have.
This is needs to be the clear message of the church in this age and every, here you wicked leaders, the Lord stands in judgment, do justice, lead rightly.
God says, the murder of the innocent in the womb is unacceptable.
Transition
Transition
But they are blind and even when God shakes the earth they will not see. Verse 5
The Earth is Shaken with God’s Judgement
The Earth is Shaken with God’s Judgement
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
There are 2 ways to take this verse.
The earth’s foundation is shaken because of their unrighteous leadership.
God shakes the earth in vengeance and they are two blind to see it.
The second makes the most sense, it flows from the construction,
No knowledge
No Understand,
In Darkness
They cannot hear the warning
The only way to hear is be the word of God. Judaeo Christian values inherited from culture are not enough.
When the Lord said, “[b]lessed is the nation who’s God is the Lord,” (Psalm 33:12, ESV) that blessing flows from the fact they act like he is Lord. Justice is done by leadership, the people are good neighbors. this does not happen with any other foundation for society then the Biblical God and his rules. Period.
Transition
Transition
Verse 6-8 are the final judgement and the solution.
God Rules, Christ Inherits Nations
God Rules, Christ Inherits Nations
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!
RC Comments here, “God is the judge, so human judges functioning as His agents can be called “gods.” Jesus quotes this line in reference to himself in John 10:34.” [2]
“35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? (Jn 10:35–36, ESV)
“nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”
If the Holy One, the righteous one faces death how much more the wicked leaders that deserve it?
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Even David, arguable the most righteous rule recorded in history was guilty of murder, adultery, unjust actions. The palmist say here, David your title cannot defense you the wages of sin is death and you are a sinner. No ruler is above God’s law and every ruler has broken that law! Accept 1!
Verse 8 “Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!”
Again we see the truth the every text point us to Christ, what began as a rebuke of wicked men bring us to our need to the one true king.
The contrast is clear,
where the wick rulers “judge[d] unjustly and show[ed] partiality to the wicked”
This king will “Rescue the weak and the needy”
Notice how the themes we have seen from Psalm 2 and Psalm 24 appear hear.
“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession (Ps 2:8, ESV)
“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!” (Ps 24:7–8, ESV)
He will take his rode of iron and dash these wicked rulers in pieces.
He will dash in piece all that oppose him
Conclusion
Conclusion
This is why the Apostle says today is the day of salvation, tomorrow is to late. The king is coming and his robes are dipped in the blood of his enemies, he is the word of God, He is King of king and He is Lord of Lord and he will reign forever.
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Benediction
Benediction
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
References
References
[1]John Calvin and James Anderson, Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 3 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 327–328.
[2] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 928.
Bibliography
Bibliography
Calvin, John, and James Anderson. Commentary on the Book of Psalms. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.
Sproul, R. C., ed. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015.