Psalm 82--God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

This psalmist speaks to the earthly judges, seeing how often the poor and innocent are down-trodden and the wealthy and famous ones are exalted. But God, the ultimate Judge from whom all power flows, speaks words of rebuke for those who side with the wealthy. His command for them is to defend the poor and needy and to do justice for the afflicted. Those who are described as afflicted, poor and needy are those who are cast out by the world. The poor and needy are those who by God's grace live lives of self-denial, perhaps because it they are busy in their efforts to help those who have been given less of the basic necessities. Perhaps they are poor because God in His sovereignty had ordained that their lot would serve to cause them to be the recipients of the mercies of Christ distributed by fellow saints.

The world around us thrives on its love for pleasure, money, and wealth. Even so, the unbelieving judges side with those who can fork over the most toward their own pockets.

We see this love of pleasure and money in our time as well. Not only do we see this greed in the countless lottery tickets that people are buying every day, but also when the world cringes at the thought of proper regard for the Sabbath day. Money has become such an idol that the day that the Lord has set aside for rest and spiritual refreshment becomes in the world's mind another work day. This is direct rebellion to the fourth commandment, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy."

At the very end, we see yet another plea for the Lord to arise and judge these men. God will certainly punish those who willfully despise His commandment, and it will be known to all that God is indeed a just God whose counsel will stand, and who will do all His pleasure.