Psalms 82:1

God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

Psalms 82:1.-God stands as Judge in the congregation where princes, His representatives, preside (Psalms 82:1); He reproves them for partiality to the wicked, and urges them to right the afflicted (Psalms 82:2); but they will not understand (Psalms 82:5); therefore sentences is passed upon them, the more terrible as they were once "gods," as His representatives (Psalms 82:6); prayer for the judgment (Psalms 82:8). The "congregation" is Israel; and now, professing Christendom. 'Elohiym (H430) - "gods" - is a term not for pagan potentates, but for God's vicegerents in His visible kingdom. The ground of His judgment is their responsibility as persons "unto whom the word of God came" (John 10:34). None else could be called "children of the Most High" (Psalms 82:6; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 3:13; Jeremiah 22:3; Malachi 3:1; especially Deuteronomy 1:16-5; also 2 Chronicles 19:5). God's representatives bear His name (Exodus 22:28). Israel's throne was 'the throne of Yahweh' (1 Chronicles 29:23). Thus there was designed to be in the people reverence for rulers and judges as God's vicegerents, and in the judges a sense of solemn responsibility, so as to act as would God the Supreme Judge (Job 34:19). But the judges thought only of the rights, not of the duties of their divine office. Asaph, the Seer, shows them what the eye of sense could not see-`God standing as Judge in the congregation,' which is His, not theirs and "judging among" the judges, or "gods" (cf. Exodus 4:16; Exodus 7:1).

God standeth in the congregation of the mighty - `standeth up;' cometh forward, as Isaiah 3:13, "The Lord standeth up [the same Hebrew verb as here, nitsaab (H5324)] to plead, and standeth to judge the people," etc. Similarly the 50th Psalm, which is also of Asaph's composition, begins with the appearing of God for judgment.

In this congregation of the mighty - rather, 'in the congregation of God' [ 'Eel (H410)] corresponding to 'Elohiym (H430), "the gods," which follow. It is because the congregation is His specially (Psalms 74:2, "Thy congregation which thou hast purchased of old") the God can suffer no unrighteousness or abuse of power on the part of those who are His representatives, bearing His name ( 'Elohiym (H430), "the gods") as His vicegerents in His congregation. The "congregation" [ `ªdat (H5712)] is His professing Church and people; not the college of the Judges.

He judgeth among the gods. He proceeds (Psalms 82:2) to set forth how God judgeth, and will at His appearing judge 'the gods' 'Elohiym (H430), or judges who bear His name. Psalms 82:6 shows that it is not angels who are meant.