Psalm 82:1-8 NKJV
82 God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods.
2 How long will you judge unjustly,
And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Defend the poor and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from 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 unstable.
6 I said, “You are gods,
And all of you are children of the Most High.
7 But you shall die like men,
And fall like one of the princes.”
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
For You shall inherit all nations.
The Holy Spirit through the psalmist opens with a bold and true statement that God Himself “judges among the gods.” It’s basically a First Commandment statement which gives us comfort knowing that our God, the only true God, knows, judges, and rules all things for His glory and our good. The psalmist then chastises the false gods for judging unjustly and showing favoritism to the wicked. Then at the end the psalmist prays and knows that God Himself will judge the earth.
These are comforting truths, dear saints, for they teach you not to fret about earthly authorities. By faith you know and believe that not only does God have everything in control and that He alone orders and allows all things, even wicked rulers, to reign, but that God Himself will bring everything to a glorious end for His people, and He will impose an eternally destructive end for those who stand against Him.
In the kingdom of Christ, of which you are a part by virtue of your baptism, there is strength and victory, even when it seems as though earthly kingdoms reign supreme and wickedly mistreat you and the rest of God’s people. They will be brought to nothing in the end, and you will stand with Christ as you are now strengthened by His Gospel rightly preached and His Sacraments rightly administered.
As today the Church celebrates The Transfiguration of Our Lord, remember that Moses and Elijah spoke of Jesus’ death; it was a death which paid for the sins of the world – your sins. Rejoice in Christ and trust His love for you in spite of earthly tyranny.
Let us pray: O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your only begotten Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of the fathers. In the voice that came from the bright cloud You wonderfully foreshowed the adoption of sons. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His glory and bring us to the enjoyment of the same; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.