Commentary - Psalm 82:6-7

Bird's-eye view

In this potent passage from Asaph, we are confronted with a startling declaration from God, followed by an equally stark sentence of judgment. The psalm as a whole deals with God’s judicial review of the judges of the earth, those He has placed in authority. Here in verses 6 and 7, the indictment reaches its climax. God reminds these rulers of their exalted, divinely-appointed status, only to immediately pronounce their downfall. They were given a position of honor, representing God Himself, but because of their corruption and failure to execute true justice (vv. 2-4), they will be stripped of their glory and die a common death. This passage is a sober warning to all who hold authority: God delegates authority, but He does not abdicate His throne. All authority is derivative and accountable to Him, and He will not tolerate the perpetual abuse of the power He has granted.

The Lord Jesus famously quotes verse 6 in John 10:34 to defend His own divinity against the accusations of the Jews. In doing so, He shows that Scripture uses the term 'gods' for created beings who are vested with God's authority. His argument is a brilliant a fortiori: if Scripture, which cannot be broken, calls mere men 'gods' because the word of God came to them, how much more is it fitting for the one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, the very Word made flesh, to be called the Son of God? This psalm, therefore, not only addresses the problem of unjust rulers but also provides a crucial Christological key, demonstrating how the Old Testament anticipates the incarnation of the ultimate Judge and Ruler.

Outline

Context In The Psalms

Psalm 82 is one of the psalms of Asaph, and it functions as a prophetic lawsuit or covenant lawsuit (a rib oracle). God Himself is the plaintiff, the judge, and the bailiff, all in one. He stands in the divine council, the assembly of the mighty ones, and He brings His charges against the corrupt 'elohim', a term that can refer to angels, demons, or, as is most clearly the case here, human rulers who judge on God's behalf. The psalm opens with God taking His place in the assembly to hold judgment (v. 1). He then lays out the charge: they have judged unjustly and shown partiality to the wicked (v. 2). He reminds them of their duty, to defend the weak, the fatherless, the poor, and the needy (vv. 3-4). But they have failed, walking in darkness, and as a result, the very foundations of the earth are shaken (v. 5). Our passage, verses 6-7, is the turning point where God passes from indictment to sentencing. The psalm concludes with a plea for God to rise up and judge the earth Himself, for all the nations are His inheritance (v. 8).

Clause-by-Clause Commentary

Verse 6

I said, “You are gods,

Here God Himself is speaking, reminding these unjust rulers of a previous declaration. He is the one who established their office. The word for "gods" here is elohim. While this is the same word used for the one true God, the context makes it clear that it refers to created beings. Scripture is not polytheistic. Rather, the Bible uses this term for those who represent God's authority on earth. Civil magistrates, judges, and rulers are God's deacons (Rom. 13:4), and in their official capacity, they wield a delegated, divine authority to pronounce judgment. They are to be "little gods" in the sense that they are to mirror God's own justice and righteousness. This is a statement of high honor and profound responsibility. God invested them with dignity and power, setting them apart from the people they were to govern. The sin here is not that they were called gods, but that they failed to live up to the name.

And all of you are sons of the Most High.

This phrase parallels and intensifies the first. To be a "son of God" in the Old Testament often signifies a special relationship, a position of honor and privilege within God's administration. It can refer to angels in the heavenly council (Job 1:6) or to the nation of Israel (Ex. 4:22). Here, it applies to these rulers. They are not just any functionaries; they are members of the household of the "Most High" (Elyon), the sovereign ruler over all creation. They were brought into the family business, so to speak, which is the business of governance and justice. This title underscores both their privileged position and their intimate accountability. They are not autonomous; they are sons under the authority of the great Father, the King of kings. Their failure is therefore not just a professional failure, but a familial betrayal. They have dishonored their Father.

Verse 7

Nevertheless you will die like men

Here is the great reversal, the hammer blow of judgment. The word "nevertheless" marks the sharp pivot from exalted status to utter humiliation. Despite the grand titles God bestowed upon them, "gods," "sons of the Most High", they have forgotten their creatureliness. They acted as though they were autonomous, but God reminds them of their frailty. They will die like adam, like common men, like the dust from which all men are made. Their robes of state and gavels of authority provide no shield against the great leveler, which is death. Because they judged unjustly, they will face the ultimate, just judgment. Their divine commission will not exempt them from a very human end. They breathed the same air and were made of the same stuff as the poor and needy they were supposed to defend. By refusing to act like God in their justice, they forfeited their honor and will be reduced to the common denominator of mortality.

And you will fall like any one of the princes.”

This final clause seals their fate. Not only will they die, but their fall will be conspicuous. The word "fall" suggests a sudden, violent, and public end, not a peaceful fading away. They will tumble from their lofty positions. They thought themselves secure, but they will fall just like any other prince or ruler throughout history who has been deposed. The history of the world is littered with the corpses of proud princes who thought they were invincible. God is saying that these unjust judges are no different. Their names will be added to the long list of failed rulers who were weighed in the balances and found wanting. This is a promise that God will vindicate His own name by cleaning house. No earthly authority is absolute, and no tyrant's reign is permanent. God raises up and God casts down. Their fall is a testimony to the fact that the Most High still rules in the kingdoms of men.

Application

The first and most obvious application is for those who hold any kind of authority. Whether you are a president, a pastor, a parent, or a police officer, your authority is delegated. You are a steward, and you will give an account to the one who appointed you. This psalm is a terrifying warning against the abuse of power. God takes injustice seriously, especially when it is perpetrated by those who are supposed to be His representatives. We must pray for our rulers, that they would govern with justice and fear God, and we must resist the temptation to show partiality or exploit the weak in our own, smaller spheres of influence.

Secondly, this passage gives immense comfort to the oppressed. It may seem like wicked rulers get away with murder, and that the foundations of the world are shaking. They are. But God is still on His throne. He sees, He knows, and He will judge. The tyrants of this world are on a divine leash, and their time is short. They will die like men and fall like princes. This psalm reminds us to lift our eyes and pray as the psalmist does in the final verse: "Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!" Our hope is not in a change of administration, but in the final judgment and righteous reign of Jesus Christ.

Finally, we must see the gospel here. All human judges have failed. All have fallen short of the glory of God. We are all like these corrupt rulers, having abused whatever authority we have and having failed to reflect God's perfect justice. We all deserve to die like men and fall. But God, in His mercy, sent His true Son, the ultimate Judge, Jesus Christ. He did not fall. He stood, and He took the fall for us. He died like a man, the common death we deserved, so that we, through faith in Him, might be made true sons of the Most High, not by office, but by adoption. He is the only one who can truly be called God and Son of God, and He now rules and judges the earth in perfect righteousness. Our only hope is to appeal to this Judge for mercy, a mercy He purchased for us on the cross.