Unjust Judgments Rebuked.
A Psalm of Asaph.
82 God takes His stand in [a]His own congregation;
He judges in the midst of the [b]rulers.
2 How long will you judge unjustly
And show partiality to the wicked? [c]Selah.
3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.5 They do not know nor do they understand;
They walk about in darkness;
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 [d]I said, “You are gods,
And all of you are sons of the Most High.
7 “Nevertheless you will die like men
And fall like any one of the princes.”
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth!
For it is You who possesses all the nations.
This psalm bemoans the unjust rule of the judges or rulers of Israel, and could most certainly be applied to those in authority in any country. Just as God’s law instructed the judges to show no partiality, so it should be for all judges. Otherwise, they “walk about in darkness” and are without understanding, as it notes in vs. 5.
This certainly would be expanded beyond what we call “judges” to really anyone in a position of authority. As I was reading in a commentary, I was challenged further to think of anyone who has someone dependent on them, or looking up to them. And that broadens this to just about anyone, except for small children.
Even my daughter has younger kids that look up to her, that see her as a “model” for how they ought to act, just as she looks up to older family members, and of course us as parents. When we think of the influence we wield, it is a sobering reality. Do we show partiality to those whom we should not? Do we vindicate or speak up for the afflicted and needy?
Take stock of your position, take a minute to think of those you influence. Is it for good, or are you leading them to the same fall that is in your future? One day God will judge the whole earth, and He most certainly will hold us accountable for the responsibility that He has entrusted us with. If you have a position of power, even more so, and judgment may come sooner than looked for.
Take nothing for granted: be wise and diligent, seek His guidance in the decisions you make, and in your every day actions, that you may be a “workman who need not be ashamed”.