Judging the Judges

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What do you do when power gets twisted and the people meant to protect end up harming? We step into Psalms 82–84 with Stephen Davy to face injustice head-on, explore accountability for leaders, and discover how real peace can take root before any court sets things right. This is a journey from outrage to orientation: God is just, He sees motives, and He calls rulers, judges, and officials to defend the weak, rescue the needy, and refuse partiality. That standard is not theoretical—it is urgent, practical, and deeply human.

We unpack the often-misunderstood use of Elohim in Psalm 82, showing how Scripture places earthly authorities under divine review. Then we widen the lens in Psalm 83, where hostile nations plot against God’s people for no crime but allegiance. The prayer for judgment here is bracing, yet the motive matters: “Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name.” Justice is pursued not to feed revenge but to invite repentance and reveal who truly rules. Finally, Psalm 84 brings comfort for those who feel small or restless. The sons of Korah sing of sparrows and swallows finding a home near God’s presence, a vivid picture of safety for the unseen and rest for the overworked soul.

If you’ve been burned by biased decisions, sidelined at work, or targeted for your convictions, this conversation offers both backbone and balm. We talk about holding power to account, praying with clean motives, and building a daily refuge in God that steadies your heart while you wait for Christ’s perfect justice. Come for the clarity on justice, stay for the hope that anchors you when nothing else feels fair. Listen, share with a friend who needs courage today, and subscribe to keep walking this wisdom journey with us. Your review helps others find the show—what part spoke to you most?

The first of Stephen's two volumes set through the Book of Revelation is now available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ3XCJMY

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:34):
How do you respond when power is abused by people
in authority?
And what hope is there wheninjustice prevails and you feel
worthless or unseen?
Of course, we should seek andpray for justice, but perfect
justice will only come withChrist's return.

(00:54):
In the meantime, it's possibleto find peace even if we don't
find justice.
Today, Stephen Davy will showyou that peace and satisfaction
is found in the Lord's presence.
Here's Stephen.

SPEAKER_01 (01:11):
As we begin today our wisdom journey in Psalm 82,
we're confronted by an issuethat's often addressed in the
Bible.
It's the subject of injustice.
And I want to tell you this is amatter of concern to God because
it violates his nature.
God happens to be just.
That is, he always does what'sright.
He isn't partial.

(01:32):
He can't be bribed.
He isn't influenced by somespecial interest.
He always stands againstinjustice wherever it's found.
In fact, he he lays down somepretty severe warnings about
injustice here in this psalm.
Now the author here is Asaph,and he writes in verse 1, God

(01:53):
has taken his place in thedivine council in the midst of
the gods, he holds judgment.
Now, what is this council of thegods in which God is standing?
That might have struck yourattention as they're about to
pass judgment.
Well, most English Biblestranslate the Hebrew noun here,
Elohim, as gods.
It is in fact one of the namesfor the true and living God.

(02:17):
So does this suggest that falsegods or wooden idols are for
real?
Well, I don't believe that, ofcourse, for a moment.
Indeed, the Bible is clear thatwooden idols are nothing more
than, well, blocks of wood, andthat God Himself is God alone, 2
Kings 19, 19.
So what do we make of this versebefore we get into the topic?

(02:39):
Well, several times in the OldTestament, the noun Elohim is
used for rulers or judges, andthis is the case here.
And that's because judges wereto act on behalf of God.
They're standing in for thejustice of God.
They're applying his standard ofjustice of what's right and

(03:01):
what's wrong.
That judge intersects people'slives, and that means they hold
a position of great authority.
I mean, think about it.
A human judge renders judgmenton another person.
You can't get any higher on thefood chain, so to speak, than
that position.
Now, what's happening in thispsalm is that God is about to
render judgment on the judges ofearth.

(03:25):
He says here in verse 2, howlong will you judge unjustly and
show partiality to the wicked?
See, they've been given theauthority to represent a just
standard, and instead they'dacted with partiality toward the
wicked.
Maybe it'd been some of theirfriends, we don't know.
But listen to what God tellsthem here in verse 6.

(03:45):
You are gods, I think that couldbe translated, you are judges,
sons of the most high, all ofyou.
Nevertheless, like men, youshall die and fall like any
prince.
But one day you're gonna die andyou're gonna stand before the

(04:07):
judge and you're gonna giveaccount for your actions.
You see, God is reminding themhere of their mortality,
ultimately of theiraccountability before God, who
is the judge of all judges.
Let me tell you, this is aserious warning to anybody
listening to me today who mightbe a judge or a political leader

(04:30):
or a corporate official withincredible power over the lives
of people.
You might have legal authorityin your city or state or
country.
Well, I want you to know Psalm82 ought to be on the dashboard
of your automobile as you driveinto work.
God's going to be listening andwatching.

(04:51):
He knows every verdict you'regoing to render.
He's watching every decision youmake and he knows why you made
it.
See, ASAP delivers your jobdescription from God Himself.
Here it is, in verse three.
Give justice to the weak and thefatherless.
Maintain the right of theafflicted and the destitute.

(05:15):
Rescue the weak and the needy.
Deliver them from the hand ofthe wicked.
In other words, don't beinfluenced by the fact that
these weak and needy, the thesepoor people can't pay you back.
You go ahead and render yourverdict based on the just
character of God Himself.
Now the next Psalm here, Psalm83, deals with the same subject

(05:40):
of injustice.
Now in this case, pagan nationsare preparing to attack Israel.
Verse 2 describes for us thethreat.
Your enemies make an uproar.
They consult together againstyour treasured ones.
They say, Come, let us wipe themout as a nation.
Let the name of Israel beremembered no more.

(06:01):
Now there's no sense here thatIsrael has sinned, and that
these nations are being used byGod as discipline against
Israel.
No, the injustice here is thatthese nations are conspiring
against Israel for two reasons.
Number one, they hate God, andnumber two, they hate God's
people.
Maybe there are some people atyour workplace or or who go to

(06:23):
school with you who clearlydislike you.
They may even hate you, and andyou're trying to figure out why.
You've done nothing but showthem kindness, and you've
basically tried to uh stay outof their way, but they don't
like you.
And every chance they get therethey're gonna say something,
they're gonna do somethingunkind.
Why?

(06:44):
Well, because in their heart ofhearts they hate God, and you
happen to belong to them.
And that's all it takes.
Now, here in verses 9 through12, Asaph asks the Lord to judge
these nations just like he didin the past during the period of
the great judges.

(07:04):
But that raises the question ispraying for judgment on those
who act unjustly, you know, theright kind of prayer request for
God's people?
I've never seen it on the on thechurch prayer list.
Well, apparently it isjustifiable, at least in some
cases, because the Word of Godrecords that kind of prayer
right here without any apologyat all.

(07:25):
The crucial question is thisWhat is your motivation for
asking God to judge those whoare unjust toward you or other
people?
I want you to listen to themotivation of Asaph.
He gives it to us here in verse16.
Fill their faces with shame,that they may seek your name, O

(07:46):
Lord.
Let them perish in disgrace.
Now listen to this, that theymay know that you alone, whose
name is the Lord, are the mosthigh over all the earth.
Let me tell you, that's theright kind of motivation.
It it happens to beevangelistic.
Judge them, Lord, bring them totheir knees in defeat and shame.

(08:11):
Why?
So they'll come to the end ofthemselves and turn and follow
you.
Remember, beloved, that thosepeople who hate you, well,
they're not really your enemies.
In fact, they happen to be yourmission field.
Well, now the next Psalm, Psalm84, this is written by one of
the sons, or perhaps severalsons of Korah.

(08:34):
These men had been assigned tobe gatekeepers back there at the
temple near the place where Godmanifested his glorious
presence.
Now today, we would think ofthese men as, you know,
hardworking, sort of salt of theearth kind of men.
Their hands would have beencalloused, they would have worn

(08:55):
overalls, so to speak, as theywent off to work every day with
their lunch pail in their hand.
But these were faithful men whoserved God diligently.
And this song they wrote happensto be absolutely amazing.
In fact, I'd like to think thatI love the Lord as much as these
hard working men did back here.

(09:17):
Well now this psalm follows upnicely on the Psalms we've just
studied.
We we now have a reminder thatGod is the place of refuge from
all the injustices of the world.
Verse three says here Even thesparrow finds a home and the
swallow a nest for herself,where she may lay her young at
your altars, O Lord of hosts, myking and my God.

(09:40):
Throughout the Bible the sparrowsymbolizes something of very
little worth.
In fact, up to the time ofJesus, boys were known to trap
sparrows and sell them for a fewpennies there at the temple
because they were commonly usedin the sacrificial system for
poor people.
Well, these men are saying we'relike a lot of sparrows out

(10:00):
there.
And you know, today you mightthink that's who you are, just a
little sparrow.
Maybe not worth all that much inthe eyes of the world.
Well, let me tell you, God lovesthat sparrow.
He he finds a place for it todwell in safety.
The sons of Korah mentioned asparrow here, and also verse 3

(10:21):
tells us they mentioned aswallow.
Swallows represented a ratherrestless sort of busy living.
They're always fluttering hereand fluttering there.
A swallow is going to wear youout if you try to follow it.
But the psalm says here that theswallow has made a nest in God's

(10:42):
presence.
In other words, it's finallysettled down in the care of God.
Well, today you might be feelinga little worthless or maybe
restless.
The world around you might betreating you unjustly.
Perhaps you've recently stoodbefore an unjust judge or heard
words from an unjust anacquaintance or family member.

(11:07):
Let me tell you, God is aware ofyour situation.
He loves you.
He hasn't abandoned you.
And before Him, the righteousjudge, well, you can go ahead
and build a nest.
You can find rest and securityand hope in God alone.

(11:29):
Well, until our next wisdomjourney, beloved, may the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ and thelove of God and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with youall.
Amen.

SPEAKER_00 (11:55):
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(12:17):
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