What would my subject be if I were invited to speak to a gathering of Australia’s best-known ministers? (An unlikely possibility.) Psalm 82 for sure. The psalm begins with: “God stands in the congregation of the mighty.” In Old Testament times, these were Israel’s magistrates.
In those days, no separation existed between the civil and religious laws: they were one and the same. Nowadays, that “congregation” would consist of those who hold to the words of Jesus Christ and the Apostles’ Doctrine.
Verse 2 reads: “He judges among the gods.” (Hebrew “elohim” (See Exodus 22:28) God accuses them of judging unjustly by favouring the rich over the poor, and exhorts them to defend the poor and the orphaned by releasing them from the clutches of purposely evil people.
Poll driven politicians and megachurch CEOs take note: A worldwide movement has begun in Western nations that will sweep out once popular political figures and money-grabbers that have mistaken their now dwindling congregations’ adoration as God’s approval. It is well under way in the USA and has begun in the UK. Australia will soon follow, given the disillusionment apparent among our nation’s voters. Those among both leaderships who claim to be Christians will soon find out that God’s judgements follow soon after His disapproval.