Psalms 82

Psalms 82:1

The Wicked Indicted

In this section, God addresses “the wicked” (Psalms 50:16). This is a member of a different company than the “godly ones” to whom He speaks in the previous verses. The wicked has forgotten the true meaning of the sacrifices. The wicked is indeed a member of God’s people, but he is one who does not reckon with God, whereas he speaks of doing His will. Prophetically we see here the unbelieving mass of the Jews following the antichrist and offering sacrifices in the temple rebuilt in unbelief in Jerusalem.

God holds up to him his boldness to tell of His statutes, while he himself does not live by them. The wicked even has the audacity to take God’s covenant into his mouth, to boast that he is a member of God’s people, while he has no consideration for God at all. He has a form of godliness, but no new life. He talks nicely, but sin lives in his heart.

He talks about God’s “statutes”, but his life is blatantly contrary to them. In our time, it is the people who are straight in doctrine, orthodox, who hold the principles, while their practice shows the opposite. The statutes of God are the rules He has given to His people concerning their lives in general, but they will here especially relate to His rules concerning sacrifices.

God makes clear to the wicked the sins he commits. In sharp words He denounces his attitude toward Him (Psalms 50:17). He knows his heart and knows that he hates the admonition, even though it is meant to correct him and then bless him. The word “you” is given emphasis. It means that the very one who knows so well and boasts of it, acts so wickedly (cf. Romans 2:17-23). By casting away His words behind him he shows his disgust for God. He is a hypocrite of the highest order.

The phrase “My words” brings to mind “the Ten Commandments” literally “the Ten Words” (Deuteronomy 4:13) God gave His people. In the following verses, God presents the wicked with some examples showing that he treats His commandments with contempt by grossly violating them (cf. Jeremiah 7:8-10).

When he sees a thief, meets him or gets to know him, he walks with him (Psalms 50:18). He does not condemn the thief, but either condones his actions or even praises him. Thus he heartlessly violates the commandment “you shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). The sin lies in not condemning it, on the contrary justifying it and thus agreeing to it. His behavior shows where his heart is. He stands in the path of sinners (cf. Psalms 1:1).

He who does not honor another’s property also does not refrain from committing adultery with his neighbor’s wife. This also applies to their supposed relation to God. They are adulterously running after the antichrist and robbing God of the honor due to Him. In this way the commandment “you shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) is also blatantly violated by the wicked. God says to him that he associates with adulterers. He does the same thing that adulterers do, which is having sexual intercourse with a wife who does not belong to him.

He uses his mouth he uses to speak evil, to slander and to deceive (Psalms 50:19). His tongue is so deceitful that one lie after another is uttered by him. His tongue is a forge of mere deceit, it is a tool of the lie. His brother, his closest relation, his family, has to suffer and becomes a target of his slander (Psalms 50:20). As he “sits” – this may indicate a court sitting where justice is to be done fairly – he speaks evil. He accuses his brother, “your own mother’s son”, and casts a blot on him, that is, he puts him in a bad light.

These are the sinful works of the wicked (Psalms 50:21). Yet God does not intervene (yet) and remains silent. From this the wicked draws the wrong conclusion by thinking that God is just like him. To explain the patience God has with evil as His condoning of it is foolish (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11; Malachi 2:17; 2 Peter 3:3-5). Those who do so are judging God by their own low standards. But God is God and not man. God’s silence does not mean that He approves of evil. He who thinks this way despises His kindness (Romans 2:4).

Because the wicked draws wrong conclusions from God’s silence, God will break His silence and reprove him. In doing so, He will display or “state [the case]” of his sins in order before his eyes against him. He will confront him with the fact that he has despicably thrown away His words as well as all his transgressions that prove it. They will not be able to close their eyes to it, so clearly will He demonstrate their sins. He will bring that up in the trial as evidence for their condemnation. The punishment He executes will be in accordance with it.

Psalms 82:2

The Wicked Indicted

In this section, God addresses “the wicked” (Psalms 50:16). This is a member of a different company than the “godly ones” to whom He speaks in the previous verses. The wicked has forgotten the true meaning of the sacrifices. The wicked is indeed a member of God’s people, but he is one who does not reckon with God, whereas he speaks of doing His will. Prophetically we see here the unbelieving mass of the Jews following the antichrist and offering sacrifices in the temple rebuilt in unbelief in Jerusalem.

God holds up to him his boldness to tell of His statutes, while he himself does not live by them. The wicked even has the audacity to take God’s covenant into his mouth, to boast that he is a member of God’s people, while he has no consideration for God at all. He has a form of godliness, but no new life. He talks nicely, but sin lives in his heart.

He talks about God’s “statutes”, but his life is blatantly contrary to them. In our time, it is the people who are straight in doctrine, orthodox, who hold the principles, while their practice shows the opposite. The statutes of God are the rules He has given to His people concerning their lives in general, but they will here especially relate to His rules concerning sacrifices.

God makes clear to the wicked the sins he commits. In sharp words He denounces his attitude toward Him (Psalms 50:17). He knows his heart and knows that he hates the admonition, even though it is meant to correct him and then bless him. The word “you” is given emphasis. It means that the very one who knows so well and boasts of it, acts so wickedly (cf. Romans 2:17-23). By casting away His words behind him he shows his disgust for God. He is a hypocrite of the highest order.

The phrase “My words” brings to mind “the Ten Commandments” literally “the Ten Words” (Deuteronomy 4:13) God gave His people. In the following verses, God presents the wicked with some examples showing that he treats His commandments with contempt by grossly violating them (cf. Jeremiah 7:8-10).

When he sees a thief, meets him or gets to know him, he walks with him (Psalms 50:18). He does not condemn the thief, but either condones his actions or even praises him. Thus he heartlessly violates the commandment “you shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). The sin lies in not condemning it, on the contrary justifying it and thus agreeing to it. His behavior shows where his heart is. He stands in the path of sinners (cf. Psalms 1:1).

He who does not honor another’s property also does not refrain from committing adultery with his neighbor’s wife. This also applies to their supposed relation to God. They are adulterously running after the antichrist and robbing God of the honor due to Him. In this way the commandment “you shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) is also blatantly violated by the wicked. God says to him that he associates with adulterers. He does the same thing that adulterers do, which is having sexual intercourse with a wife who does not belong to him.

He uses his mouth he uses to speak evil, to slander and to deceive (Psalms 50:19). His tongue is so deceitful that one lie after another is uttered by him. His tongue is a forge of mere deceit, it is a tool of the lie. His brother, his closest relation, his family, has to suffer and becomes a target of his slander (Psalms 50:20). As he “sits” – this may indicate a court sitting where justice is to be done fairly – he speaks evil. He accuses his brother, “your own mother’s son”, and casts a blot on him, that is, he puts him in a bad light.

These are the sinful works of the wicked (Psalms 50:21). Yet God does not intervene (yet) and remains silent. From this the wicked draws the wrong conclusion by thinking that God is just like him. To explain the patience God has with evil as His condoning of it is foolish (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11; Malachi 2:17; 2 Peter 3:3-5). Those who do so are judging God by their own low standards. But God is God and not man. God’s silence does not mean that He approves of evil. He who thinks this way despises His kindness (Romans 2:4).

Because the wicked draws wrong conclusions from God’s silence, God will break His silence and reprove him. In doing so, He will display or “state [the case]” of his sins in order before his eyes against him. He will confront him with the fact that he has despicably thrown away His words as well as all his transgressions that prove it. They will not be able to close their eyes to it, so clearly will He demonstrate their sins. He will bring that up in the trial as evidence for their condemnation. The punishment He executes will be in accordance with it.

Psalms 82:3

The Wicked Indicted

In this section, God addresses “the wicked” (Psalms 50:16). This is a member of a different company than the “godly ones” to whom He speaks in the previous verses. The wicked has forgotten the true meaning of the sacrifices. The wicked is indeed a member of God’s people, but he is one who does not reckon with God, whereas he speaks of doing His will. Prophetically we see here the unbelieving mass of the Jews following the antichrist and offering sacrifices in the temple rebuilt in unbelief in Jerusalem.

God holds up to him his boldness to tell of His statutes, while he himself does not live by them. The wicked even has the audacity to take God’s covenant into his mouth, to boast that he is a member of God’s people, while he has no consideration for God at all. He has a form of godliness, but no new life. He talks nicely, but sin lives in his heart.

He talks about God’s “statutes”, but his life is blatantly contrary to them. In our time, it is the people who are straight in doctrine, orthodox, who hold the principles, while their practice shows the opposite. The statutes of God are the rules He has given to His people concerning their lives in general, but they will here especially relate to His rules concerning sacrifices.

God makes clear to the wicked the sins he commits. In sharp words He denounces his attitude toward Him (Psalms 50:17). He knows his heart and knows that he hates the admonition, even though it is meant to correct him and then bless him. The word “you” is given emphasis. It means that the very one who knows so well and boasts of it, acts so wickedly (cf. Romans 2:17-23). By casting away His words behind him he shows his disgust for God. He is a hypocrite of the highest order.

The phrase “My words” brings to mind “the Ten Commandments” literally “the Ten Words” (Deuteronomy 4:13) God gave His people. In the following verses, God presents the wicked with some examples showing that he treats His commandments with contempt by grossly violating them (cf. Jeremiah 7:8-10).

When he sees a thief, meets him or gets to know him, he walks with him (Psalms 50:18). He does not condemn the thief, but either condones his actions or even praises him. Thus he heartlessly violates the commandment “you shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). The sin lies in not condemning it, on the contrary justifying it and thus agreeing to it. His behavior shows where his heart is. He stands in the path of sinners (cf. Psalms 1:1).

He who does not honor another’s property also does not refrain from committing adultery with his neighbor’s wife. This also applies to their supposed relation to God. They are adulterously running after the antichrist and robbing God of the honor due to Him. In this way the commandment “you shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) is also blatantly violated by the wicked. God says to him that he associates with adulterers. He does the same thing that adulterers do, which is having sexual intercourse with a wife who does not belong to him.

He uses his mouth he uses to speak evil, to slander and to deceive (Psalms 50:19). His tongue is so deceitful that one lie after another is uttered by him. His tongue is a forge of mere deceit, it is a tool of the lie. His brother, his closest relation, his family, has to suffer and becomes a target of his slander (Psalms 50:20). As he “sits” – this may indicate a court sitting where justice is to be done fairly – he speaks evil. He accuses his brother, “your own mother’s son”, and casts a blot on him, that is, he puts him in a bad light.

These are the sinful works of the wicked (Psalms 50:21). Yet God does not intervene (yet) and remains silent. From this the wicked draws the wrong conclusion by thinking that God is just like him. To explain the patience God has with evil as His condoning of it is foolish (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11; Malachi 2:17; 2 Peter 3:3-5). Those who do so are judging God by their own low standards. But God is God and not man. God’s silence does not mean that He approves of evil. He who thinks this way despises His kindness (Romans 2:4).

Because the wicked draws wrong conclusions from God’s silence, God will break His silence and reprove him. In doing so, He will display or “state [the case]” of his sins in order before his eyes against him. He will confront him with the fact that he has despicably thrown away His words as well as all his transgressions that prove it. They will not be able to close their eyes to it, so clearly will He demonstrate their sins. He will bring that up in the trial as evidence for their condemnation. The punishment He executes will be in accordance with it.

Psalms 82:4

The Wicked Indicted

In this section, God addresses “the wicked” (Psalms 50:16). This is a member of a different company than the “godly ones” to whom He speaks in the previous verses. The wicked has forgotten the true meaning of the sacrifices. The wicked is indeed a member of God’s people, but he is one who does not reckon with God, whereas he speaks of doing His will. Prophetically we see here the unbelieving mass of the Jews following the antichrist and offering sacrifices in the temple rebuilt in unbelief in Jerusalem.

God holds up to him his boldness to tell of His statutes, while he himself does not live by them. The wicked even has the audacity to take God’s covenant into his mouth, to boast that he is a member of God’s people, while he has no consideration for God at all. He has a form of godliness, but no new life. He talks nicely, but sin lives in his heart.

He talks about God’s “statutes”, but his life is blatantly contrary to them. In our time, it is the people who are straight in doctrine, orthodox, who hold the principles, while their practice shows the opposite. The statutes of God are the rules He has given to His people concerning their lives in general, but they will here especially relate to His rules concerning sacrifices.

God makes clear to the wicked the sins he commits. In sharp words He denounces his attitude toward Him (Psalms 50:17). He knows his heart and knows that he hates the admonition, even though it is meant to correct him and then bless him. The word “you” is given emphasis. It means that the very one who knows so well and boasts of it, acts so wickedly (cf. Romans 2:17-23). By casting away His words behind him he shows his disgust for God. He is a hypocrite of the highest order.

The phrase “My words” brings to mind “the Ten Commandments” literally “the Ten Words” (Deuteronomy 4:13) God gave His people. In the following verses, God presents the wicked with some examples showing that he treats His commandments with contempt by grossly violating them (cf. Jeremiah 7:8-10).

When he sees a thief, meets him or gets to know him, he walks with him (Psalms 50:18). He does not condemn the thief, but either condones his actions or even praises him. Thus he heartlessly violates the commandment “you shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). The sin lies in not condemning it, on the contrary justifying it and thus agreeing to it. His behavior shows where his heart is. He stands in the path of sinners (cf. Psalms 1:1).

He who does not honor another’s property also does not refrain from committing adultery with his neighbor’s wife. This also applies to their supposed relation to God. They are adulterously running after the antichrist and robbing God of the honor due to Him. In this way the commandment “you shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) is also blatantly violated by the wicked. God says to him that he associates with adulterers. He does the same thing that adulterers do, which is having sexual intercourse with a wife who does not belong to him.

He uses his mouth he uses to speak evil, to slander and to deceive (Psalms 50:19). His tongue is so deceitful that one lie after another is uttered by him. His tongue is a forge of mere deceit, it is a tool of the lie. His brother, his closest relation, his family, has to suffer and becomes a target of his slander (Psalms 50:20). As he “sits” – this may indicate a court sitting where justice is to be done fairly – he speaks evil. He accuses his brother, “your own mother’s son”, and casts a blot on him, that is, he puts him in a bad light.

These are the sinful works of the wicked (Psalms 50:21). Yet God does not intervene (yet) and remains silent. From this the wicked draws the wrong conclusion by thinking that God is just like him. To explain the patience God has with evil as His condoning of it is foolish (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11; Malachi 2:17; 2 Peter 3:3-5). Those who do so are judging God by their own low standards. But God is God and not man. God’s silence does not mean that He approves of evil. He who thinks this way despises His kindness (Romans 2:4).

Because the wicked draws wrong conclusions from God’s silence, God will break His silence and reprove him. In doing so, He will display or “state [the case]” of his sins in order before his eyes against him. He will confront him with the fact that he has despicably thrown away His words as well as all his transgressions that prove it. They will not be able to close their eyes to it, so clearly will He demonstrate their sins. He will bring that up in the trial as evidence for their condemnation. The punishment He executes will be in accordance with it.

Psalms 82:5

The Wicked Indicted

In this section, God addresses “the wicked” (Psalms 50:16). This is a member of a different company than the “godly ones” to whom He speaks in the previous verses. The wicked has forgotten the true meaning of the sacrifices. The wicked is indeed a member of God’s people, but he is one who does not reckon with God, whereas he speaks of doing His will. Prophetically we see here the unbelieving mass of the Jews following the antichrist and offering sacrifices in the temple rebuilt in unbelief in Jerusalem.

God holds up to him his boldness to tell of His statutes, while he himself does not live by them. The wicked even has the audacity to take God’s covenant into his mouth, to boast that he is a member of God’s people, while he has no consideration for God at all. He has a form of godliness, but no new life. He talks nicely, but sin lives in his heart.

He talks about God’s “statutes”, but his life is blatantly contrary to them. In our time, it is the people who are straight in doctrine, orthodox, who hold the principles, while their practice shows the opposite. The statutes of God are the rules He has given to His people concerning their lives in general, but they will here especially relate to His rules concerning sacrifices.

God makes clear to the wicked the sins he commits. In sharp words He denounces his attitude toward Him (Psalms 50:17). He knows his heart and knows that he hates the admonition, even though it is meant to correct him and then bless him. The word “you” is given emphasis. It means that the very one who knows so well and boasts of it, acts so wickedly (cf. Romans 2:17-23). By casting away His words behind him he shows his disgust for God. He is a hypocrite of the highest order.

The phrase “My words” brings to mind “the Ten Commandments” literally “the Ten Words” (Deuteronomy 4:13) God gave His people. In the following verses, God presents the wicked with some examples showing that he treats His commandments with contempt by grossly violating them (cf. Jeremiah 7:8-10).

When he sees a thief, meets him or gets to know him, he walks with him (Psalms 50:18). He does not condemn the thief, but either condones his actions or even praises him. Thus he heartlessly violates the commandment “you shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). The sin lies in not condemning it, on the contrary justifying it and thus agreeing to it. His behavior shows where his heart is. He stands in the path of sinners (cf. Psalms 1:1).

He who does not honor another’s property also does not refrain from committing adultery with his neighbor’s wife. This also applies to their supposed relation to God. They are adulterously running after the antichrist and robbing God of the honor due to Him. In this way the commandment “you shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) is also blatantly violated by the wicked. God says to him that he associates with adulterers. He does the same thing that adulterers do, which is having sexual intercourse with a wife who does not belong to him.

He uses his mouth he uses to speak evil, to slander and to deceive (Psalms 50:19). His tongue is so deceitful that one lie after another is uttered by him. His tongue is a forge of mere deceit, it is a tool of the lie. His brother, his closest relation, his family, has to suffer and becomes a target of his slander (Psalms 50:20). As he “sits” – this may indicate a court sitting where justice is to be done fairly – he speaks evil. He accuses his brother, “your own mother’s son”, and casts a blot on him, that is, he puts him in a bad light.

These are the sinful works of the wicked (Psalms 50:21). Yet God does not intervene (yet) and remains silent. From this the wicked draws the wrong conclusion by thinking that God is just like him. To explain the patience God has with evil as His condoning of it is foolish (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11; Malachi 2:17; 2 Peter 3:3-5). Those who do so are judging God by their own low standards. But God is God and not man. God’s silence does not mean that He approves of evil. He who thinks this way despises His kindness (Romans 2:4).

Because the wicked draws wrong conclusions from God’s silence, God will break His silence and reprove him. In doing so, He will display or “state [the case]” of his sins in order before his eyes against him. He will confront him with the fact that he has despicably thrown away His words as well as all his transgressions that prove it. They will not be able to close their eyes to it, so clearly will He demonstrate their sins. He will bring that up in the trial as evidence for their condemnation. The punishment He executes will be in accordance with it.

Psalms 82:6

Warning and Promise

Psalms 50:22 is a summary of Psa 50:16-21 and also a conclusion. The word is addressed to the wicked, that is someone who is religious, but has no relationship with God, for he has forgotten Him. If he understands that it is about a relationship, salvation is still possible for him. Then he will come to repentance and acknowledge that he has forgotten God. Forgetting God is not stupidity, but a guilty forgetting by eliminating Him from his thinking.

If he does not understand this call, God will tear him in pieces, as a lion tears its prey in pieces (cf. Hosea 5:14). Then there will be no more deliverance. If he rejects the only possibility of deliverance, there is no one who will be able to deliver him.

Then finally, as a summary of Psa 50:7-15, there is a word for the God-fearing (Psalms 50:23). Not he who offers many sacrifices without involving his heart, not he who can list God’s precepts and in the meantime cast away God’s words as if they were unclean, but he who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving, he honors God. God is pleased with this.

It is also connected to the fact that he is going his way aright, which is the way of God. God is with him on this way. He will lead him there and show him His salvation. The right way ends in the full salvation of the realm of peace. That is God’s salvation. God stands at the end of that way. Being with Him is the great joy for everyone who is on the way with Him and lives with and for Him.

Psalms 82:7

Warning and Promise

Psalms 50:22 is a summary of Psa 50:16-21 and also a conclusion. The word is addressed to the wicked, that is someone who is religious, but has no relationship with God, for he has forgotten Him. If he understands that it is about a relationship, salvation is still possible for him. Then he will come to repentance and acknowledge that he has forgotten God. Forgetting God is not stupidity, but a guilty forgetting by eliminating Him from his thinking.

If he does not understand this call, God will tear him in pieces, as a lion tears its prey in pieces (cf. Hosea 5:14). Then there will be no more deliverance. If he rejects the only possibility of deliverance, there is no one who will be able to deliver him.

Then finally, as a summary of Psa 50:7-15, there is a word for the God-fearing (Psalms 50:23). Not he who offers many sacrifices without involving his heart, not he who can list God’s precepts and in the meantime cast away God’s words as if they were unclean, but he who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving, he honors God. God is pleased with this.

It is also connected to the fact that he is going his way aright, which is the way of God. God is with him on this way. He will lead him there and show him His salvation. The right way ends in the full salvation of the realm of peace. That is God’s salvation. God stands at the end of that way. Being with Him is the great joy for everyone who is on the way with Him and lives with and for Him.