A Desire for Judgement
Notes
Transcript
Intro: but that’s not fair!
We say it when we are kids and we still say it today because there is built into each person a desire for justice. When we see a wrong we desire for it to be righted and dealt with correctly. One of the ways God has designed justice to be brought about in our world is through earthly systems, but what happens when that system is broken? How are we as Christians supposed to think in those moments? Today as we look in Psalm 82 we see an answer to those questions.
A Psalm of Asaph. 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!
This Psalm causes the reader to ask 3 major questions when reading it.
1. Who are these gods? (vs. 1)
2 options
Option 1 - Spiritual Beings
Internal and OT hints
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.”
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
Option 2 - Human Rulers/Judges
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.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—
So today we are going to go with Jesus’s words and land on option number two. These gods are human pagan rulers.
Since this is where we land we see something clearly, God rules over the Pagan rulers and though they think they are the most powerful judge in the land, God judges the judges everywhere.
2. Why can God demand justice from Pagan judges? (vs. 2-7)
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.”
What is the charge? - Partiality
They are judging one way for some and another way for others. The people who need just rulings the most,
the weak
the fatherless
the afflicted
the destitute
the weak
the needy
are not receiving justice because the wicked and the judges are together so partiality is shown.
God is not happy about this and he lets them know.
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.”
You think you are above the law but you are mere men and will end where all men end, in death.
Why can God demand justice like this from Pagan judges?
He put them in place and is over them.
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
Scripture does indicate that Civil Government is ordained by God but is temporary. They have a specific purpose for a specific time.
God never says that the rulers of the earthly kingdom,
forgive sin
reconcile people to God
usher in the new creation
or should or must be Christians.
It also indicates that is is for all men but under God’s authority.
Civil government according to Scripture is
not for any religious bent but for all mankind. - Church and State are separate, no matter what religion it is.
Joseph did not change Egypt
Daniel did not change Babylon
Paul did not call Christians to rise against Rome.
Even the USA is a nation of religious freedom from its beginnings. We came here to not have Church and Civil government tied together but to worship as each man determined.
So when we understand the concept that God is over it all, we see that He has expectations of those in authority on how they are to treat people made in His image. This is an effect of,
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
They are without excuse and will face judgement from the judge, Jesus Christ.
Then in verse 8, the Psalmist speaks again and says,
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!
3. Where is this hope coming from that the Psalmist has? (vs. 8)
It is because the Psalmist knows, that this earthly kingdom is not the only kingdom Jesus rules.
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
The psalmist has a hope of the kingdom of God that Christ rules in also. There is not a single kingdom under His rule, but two as this Psalm clearly shows and gives all believers hope.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
As believers we have a hope that isn’t rooted in this kingdom but in the kingdom that will last forever.
GOSPEL
Lessons from this text:
God is still in control, there is no earthly kingdom ruler over Him. So, do not be downcast!
Some of the most negative people I know are people who are immersed in social media. - Tells of the kingdom of the world.
Its rulers, celebrities, news
Some of the most positive people I know are immersed in the Bible. - Tells of the Kingdom of God.
Its Ruler and His Truth.
When earthly judges fail, they do not have the final word on the matter. So, do not lose hope or be cynical!
Cynicism is usually masked in concern, outrage, etc. The pharisees did this often, we see it all through the gospels.
Instead we should come back to the truth of the gospel. Jesus has the final word.
Our identity and hope is not in the kingdom of the world but in the kingdom of God. So, act like it!
Share the gospel
Tell others about how God is at work
Let people see you are a Christ follower above everything else.
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