515_Arise, O God, judge the earth

Psalm 82 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!

Imagine a courtroom, with a poor widow standing in front of the judge, trembling as she brings her case. She speaks of the land that was unjustly taken from her. On the other side sits a wealthy and powerful landowner, flanked by expensive lawyers. The judge listens, nods briefly at the widow, and then turns his full attention to the wealthy man’s polished arguments. The verdict comes swiftly: the case is dismissed, and the land remains in the hands of the powerful. The widow walks away empty-handed, her heart crushed.

As you watched this unfold, wouldn’t something in you rise up and say, “This is not right! Where is justice? Who will stand for her?”

All of us, in some way, have felt the sting of injustice. Maybe it was in the workplace, where connections, not competence, won someone else a promotion. Maybe it was in school, where the loudest and strongest got their way over the weaker. Society at large sees the vulnerable—the children, the poor, the marginalized—pushed to the edges while the powerful thrive. The cry rises from our hearts, “God, will you not step in? Will you not judge rightly?”

This is the cry of Psalm 82.

The psalm opens with a startling picture: “God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the ‘gods.’” God is sitting as judge over the powerful among men, the rulers and princes entrusted to rule on his behalf. Their authority is given them to protect the weak and ensure that right prevails. But instead of reflecting God’s justice, they pervert it. They show partiality to the rich and powerful, they take bribes, and turn a blind eye to the poor. Injustice flourishes under their rule.

Until God Himself takes His seat among them. He confronts them: “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

God is not indifferent to injustice. He is passionately opposed to favoritism, to bribery, to exploitation. Throughout Scripture, He warns His people never to pervert justice, whether in favor of the rich or the poor. In Exodus 23 He says, “When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit.”

His concern is that truth be upheld, that fairness be done, that every person—rich or poor, strong or weak—receives justice without partiality.

And as Psalm 68 reminds us, He is “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows.” He will not allow the weak to be trampled on forever. Gandhi once said, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” A society that abandons its weak, ignores its poor, or exploits its powerless is teetering on the edge. The psalmist says, “They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.”

When the powers that be – the authorities – refuse to act with justice, it is not just individual lives that are harmed. The very foundations of society tremble. Families break apart. Communities crumble. Nations weaken. Justice is the pillar that holds up a righteous human society. When it is neglected, everything begins to disintegrate.

And rightly so, for God’s throne is built on righteousness and justice, as Psalm 89 declares. God’s kingdom is unshakable because He never bends the truth. He never shows favoritism. He never abandons the weak. His judgments are always right.

In verse 6 of Psalm 82, God calls these human judges “sons of the Most High.” Much later, the Lord Himself quoted this in John 10, reminding the Jews that those entrusted with God’s word were called “gods” in the sense of carrying His authority. But with that authority came accountability. For though they were called to stand in God’s place, they would die like mere mortals. Their power was temporary. Their authority was borrowed. And one day, they would stand before the Judge of all the earth to give an account for how they used it.

That is why the psalm closes with a prayer that points us to the future: “Arise, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.” This is not just a cry for God to intervene in Israel. It looks forward with eager hope to the coming Messiah, who will judge the entire world with righteousness and equity. On that day when Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, will return to set all things right. On that day, the scales will finally balance. Every injustice will be addressed. Every wrong will be made right. And His reign will stretch not just over Israel, but over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

This psalm, then, carries both a warning and a hope. It warns those in authority—whether judges, rulers, politicians, or even parents, teachers, and pastors—that their authority is not their own. They are stewards. There is a Judge above the judges, a King above the kings, a Lord above the lords. If they pervert justice, if they exploit the weak, if they fail to protect the vulnerable, they will answer to God Himself. No bribe can sway Him, no influence can twist His verdict. He will defend the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

For those who are denied justice, for those who feel forgotten, this psalm reminds us: God sees. God hears. God will act. He is not distant. He is not indifferent. He is the father of the fatherless, the defender of widows, the rescuer of the needy. Proverbs 22 warns us, “Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life.” One day, He will arise to judge the earth. On that day, His justice will roll down like mighty waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Therefore, in whatever position of influence or authority we find ourselves, let us reflect God’s heart of justice. As parents, let us treat our children fairly, without favoritism. As employers, let us value our employees equally, without exploiting their weaknesses? As leaders in the church, let us shepherd God’s flock with humility and integrity, without seeking our own gain.

But for those who walk in integrity, there is encouragement. God delights in those who reflect His justice. He rewards those who defend the weak, who speak truth, who act with fairness even when it costs them. This way of life bears witness to the coming kingdom of Christ. We become signposts of the greater justice that is yet to come.

Let us also pray, “Arise, O God, judge the earth!” Let us wait eagerly for the day when Christ comes into his kingdom and perfect justice reigns. Until then, let us live as His representatives, treating others with fairness, standing up for the vulnerable, and doing what is right in the sight of God. God bless.