Psalm 82: A Psalm of Asaph

Psalms 82:1-8 NIV

[1] God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”:

[2] “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? 

[3] Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 

[4] Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. 

[5] “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 

[6] “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ 

[7] But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” 

[8] Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.

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Psalm 82 was probably written by an Asaphite, a descendant of Asaph who ministered in King David's court. 

The psalm is an illustration of God as Judge presiding over His heavenly court ("the great assembly"). "As the Great King and Judge of all the earth who "loves justice" and judges the nations in righteousness, He is seen calling to account those responsible for defending the weak and oppressed on earth." (NIV Study Bible text note on Psalm 82.)

Historic interpretations of who the "gods" are who are being judged include: 

1) unjust rulers and judges in Israel, of

     whom there were many;

2) the kings of surrounding nations who

     out of conceit, believed themselves to

     be divine beings and demanded to be

     worshipped, but who ruled unjustly;

3) divine beings in whose names the

     kings claimed to rule;

4) angels and demons.

Regardless of who they are, they are standing in judgement before their King and Judge to give account of their administration of justice. Rather than defending the weak and the fatherless, upholding the cause of the poor and the oppressed, rescuing the weak and the needy, and delivering them from the hand of the wicked, they have defended the unjust and have shown partiality to the wicked. "They know nothing, they understand nothing, and they walk about in darkness". Even though God said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High', they will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler because of their unjust administration of justice. 

The earth is the Lord’s, and He judges the nations in righteousness and justice.