We have frequently heard the language of judgment as if it is synonymous with everlasting condemnation from which there is no hope for return, room for repentance, or forgiveness. Judgment, in this popular conception, is portrayed as the final act of God casting away the disobedient and sinful. In this understanding, God runs out of patience, mercy, and love, and is not interested anymore in restoring or correcting . . . but only in punishing. However, when we look at the language of the prophets and poets of Israel, a different picture emerges.
God takes His position in His assembly;
He judges in the midst of the gods.
How long will you judge unjustly
And show partiality to the wicked?
Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
Psalm 82:1-3
These opening lines of Psalm 82 envision God as the true judge who addresses the failures of those human leaders who should be themselves judging well, but are not. God, who speaks truthfully and upholds what is right, criticizes these earthly leaders for not doing as he himself does. Their judgments are not godly.
The point becomes even more pronounced when God says what at first seems improper, calling them “gods”, but God’s point is that they should be imitating him.
I said, “You are gods,
And all of you are sons of the Most High.
Nevertheless you will die like men,
And fall like one of the princes.”
Psalm 82:6-7
When God says “you are gods” it is parallel to “you are sons of the Most High.” The rulers and leaders of God’s people are supposed to be sons of their Father, “gods” as it were. In other words, they should be authentic representatives of the One True God. They are acting like mere men, not as men should be, in union with God bearing his image and likeness, but as we tend to be in our waywardness. To be “gods” is to be sons of God. The emphasis is on imitation, of being minsters of God’s love and grace. Be small lights of the the true Light (Philippians 2:15, Ephesians 5:8). Act as shepherds like the Great Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-4).
But this is where we come back to the role of judgment. God is making a judgment here which shows the leaders where they are wrong, not to condemn and cast them off forever, but to warn and direct them toward the right path. Therefore, the psalm ends with a call for God to come judge the earth!
Arise, God, judge the earth!
For You possess all the nations.
Palm 82:8
The psalmist is not pleading with God to come and punish all the wicked forever, but to set right what is wrong and show us the right way through judging us. Our only hope is the judgment of God. Judgment is the remedy and part of the process of setting the world back to goodness. When God teaches us what is right and true, a restorative judgment, then we will be saved.
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