Today’s (Su 01/10/2017) FDR is Psalm 82 .
It will come as no surprise to you that this is one of the shortest psalms in this book of the Bible. But my reading suggests it is one of the most debated and written about.
I’d like to draw out two particular points: (i) how its constructed poetically and (ii) how part of it was used by Jesus.
It has three strands of thought with two encapsulated in the prior one so that it is a clear indicator of the simple emphasis that is encouraged by this form of expression.
A God stands and judges the assembly of the gods. (v1)
B The gods are confronted over their injustice. (v2-4)
C The chaos left by the gods is described. (v5)
B The gods are confronted with their mortality. (v6-7)
A God is asked to rise in the assembly and judge the earth. (v8)
God stands over all for what He desires. A just world in which He exercises judgement of all for those things done and not done. For the chaos created. God’s authority is emphasised here by the use of the word ‘gods’ to include both the earthly and supernatural over which He has supreme authority.
Jesus, God’s son and part of the Trinity, is recorded in John 10: 30-49 as being charged as blasphemous when He says He and the Father are One (v30). Jesus goes on to defend himself before those wishing to stone Him (v33-36) using Psalm 82:6 through the interpretation that some mortals are “gods’ or immortal. Jesus goes on to argue that He was sanctified and sent by ‘the Father’ to do the Father’s works.
Here’s how John records this interchange between Jesus’ accusers, attempting to be His executioners, and Jesus.
John 10:30-39 New International Version – UK (NIVUK)
30 I and the Father are one.’
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’
33 ‘We are not stoning you for any good work,’ they replied, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’
34 Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your Law, “I have said you are ‘gods’”? 35 If he called them “gods”, to whom the word of God came – and Scripture cannot be set aside – 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, “I am God’s Son”? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.’ 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
(Sourced from Biblegateway.com on 29/09/2017. With thanks.)
So we are able to sing in great joy and praise of our Almighty God and His son Jesus:
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
(Sourced from Youtube.com on 29/09/2017. With thanks.)
May your Sunday be blessed as you praise the Almighty Triune God,
Glenn