Deposed Deities: The Judgment of the Unjust Gods Text: Psalm 82:6-7
Introduction: A Cosmos Full of Rulers
We live in an age that has been systematically disenchanted. Our modern, secular mindset wants to flatten the world, to strip it of all mystery, hierarchy, and spiritual reality. We are taught to think of the universe as a great, empty, meaningless machine, composed of nothing but matter in motion. The spiritual realm, if acknowledged at all, is relegated to a private, pious corner of the heart, with no real bearing on the affairs of nations, on the rulings of judges, or on the flow of history.
But the Bible paints a radically different picture. The Scriptures reveal a cosmos humming with activity, a world governed not only by visible kings and presidents, but also by invisible principalities and powers. This is the consistent testimony of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. God, in His wisdom, has delegated authority. He has a council. He has appointed sons of God, spiritual beings, to oversee the nations. This is part of the background cosmology of the Bible, something the ancient Israelites understood, but which we, in our materialist stupor, have forgotten.
Psalm 82 throws open the door to the heavenly courtroom and allows us to witness a session of the divine council. God, the supreme Elohim, stands up to judge the lesser elohim. These are not idols of wood and stone, which are nothing. And this is not a pantheon of rival gods. No, these are created, supernatural beings, angels if you like, who were given a sacred trust. They were appointed as judges, as rulers over the nations, to execute justice and defend the weak. But they have been derelict in their duty. They have judged unjustly and shown partiality to the wicked. And so, this psalm is a blistering indictment, a declaration of judgment against corrupt spiritual authority.
This is not some obscure theological oddity. This is intensely practical. It teaches us that injustice on earth has roots in the spiritual realm. It reminds us that all authority is delegated and therefore accountable to God. And it prepares us to understand the words of Jesus in the New Testament when He, the ultimate Judge, confronts the corrupt rulers of His own day. The principles of divine justice are the same, whether in the heavenly council or in a Jerusalem court.
The Text
I said, “You are gods,
And all of you are sons of the Most High.
Nevertheless you will die like men
And you will fall like any one of the princes.”
(Psalm 82:6-7 LSB)
The Exalted Rank and a Divine Reminder (v. 6)
In verse 6, God reminds these corrupt judges of the high office they once held.
"I said, “You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High." (Psalm 82:6)
Now, this is a verse that has caused no small amount of confusion. Certain cults have seized upon this to teach that men can become gods. But that is to rip the verse out of its context and ignore the entire point of the psalm. The word for "gods" here is the Hebrew word elohim. It is the same word used for the one true God in verse 1: "Elohim stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the elohim." The Bible is not smuggling polytheism in through the back door. Rather, the term elohim is used here in a functional sense. It refers to one who represents God, who wields divine authority. These beings were appointed to God's council, to rule as His delegates.
They are also called "sons of the Most High." This is another title for these divine beings, members of God's heavenly host (cf. Job 1:6). God is reminding them of their created dignity, their high calling. He is saying, "I am the one who appointed you. I gave you this rank. I invested you with this authority. You did not seize it for yourselves." This is the foundation of all legitimate authority: it is delegated from God. Whether we are talking about an angel, a king, a father, or a civil magistrate, their authority is not their own. They are stewards, and they will give an account to the one who appointed them.
This is precisely the point Jesus makes in John 10. When the Jews accuse Him of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God, He quotes this very verse. His argument is one from lesser to greater. He says, in effect, "If your own Scriptures, which cannot be broken, call mere human judges 'gods' because they were recipients of God's word and authority, how can you accuse Me of blasphemy? I am the one whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, the very Word of God incarnate." He is not affirming their divinity; He is using their own Scripture to show that the title elohim can be used for delegated authorities, and therefore their charge of blasphemy is baseless. Then He goes on to claim a unity with the Father that far surpasses anything these "gods" could ever claim.
The Shocking Sentence: Mortality for Immortals (v. 7)
After reminding them of their high station, God pronounces their sentence in verse 7, and it is a stunning reversal.
"Nevertheless you will die like men And you will fall like any one of the princes." (Psalm 82:7 LSB)
This is the punchline of the psalm. This is the verdict from the bench of the Supreme Judge. "Nevertheless." Despite your exalted title, despite your high calling, your corruption has brought you low. "You will die like men." These are spiritual beings, created for a different kind of existence than ours. But their judgment is to be stripped of their glory and subjected to death, just like the mortal men they have oppressed. They abused their authority, so their authority is being revoked in the most final way possible.
This is a fundamental biblical principle: judgment is meted out according to the level of privilege and responsibility. To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). These beings were given a position of immense honor and power. They were called elohim. But they judged unjustly, they failed to defend the poor and fatherless, and they walked in darkness. And so their judgment is severe. Their high calling does not exempt them from judgment; it makes their sin all the more heinous.
Notice the second phrase: "And you will fall like any one of the princes." The word "princes" refers to human rulers. They thought they were in a special, protected class. But God says, "No. When you rebel against My justice, you will be thrown onto the same heap as any petty, corrupt human tyrant." They will fall. Their power is not ultimate. Their thrones are not secure. God raises up and God casts down. This is a profound warning to every person in a position of authority. Your title, your office, your wealth, your influence, none of it will protect you on the day of judgment. If you use your God-given authority to pervert justice and oppress the weak, you will fall. You will die like a man. You will face the same Judge as everyone else.
This is not just a threat; it is a promise. It is a promise that God sees the corruption of the wicked rulers, both seen and unseen. It is a promise that He will not tolerate it forever. The foundations of the earth may be shaken by their wickedness (v. 5), but God's throne is unshaken. He will arise and judge the earth.
The Gospel for a World of Unjust Rulers
This psalm is a cry for justice, and it is ultimately answered in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the true Judge, the one to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given. He is the one who came to execute perfect justice.
How did He do it? He did it by taking the judgment of verse 7 upon Himself. He, the true Son of the Most High, the eternal Elohim, humbled Himself. He did not die "like" a man; He became a man and truly died. He, the ultimate Prince of Peace, allowed Himself to fall. He was cast down, crucified, and buried. He took the curse that was due to corrupt rulers, both human and angelic.
The apostle Paul tells us that on the cross, Christ "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Colossians 2:15). The cross was the ultimate judgment seat. It was there that the sentence of Psalm 82 was executed upon the spiritual powers of darkness that held the world in their sway. Their authority was broken. Their sentence of death was sealed.
And because He fell, we who trust in Him are raised up. Because He died, we are given life. He took the curse so that we might receive the blessing. He is now enthroned as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The prayer at the end of this psalm, "Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!" (Psalm 82:8), is a messianic prayer that is answered in the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. He has inherited the nations. He is now putting all His enemies under His feet.
Therefore, we should not despair when we see injustice in the world. We should not be intimidated by arrogant rulers who think they are untouchable. We know that there is a higher court and a greater Judge. We know that their sentence has already been written. They will die like men. They will fall like any prince. But our King, the Lord Jesus, has conquered death and reigns forever. And we, who are united to Him by faith, are seated with Him in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion. Our trust is not in princes, who will fall, but in the King who has already triumphed.