“Partiality to the Wicked?” (Ps 82)

“God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” (vs1-2)

This injustice is not merely economic and political; it is spiritual injustice, which encompasses those (vs1-2). He says, “How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked”. If a man knows God, then he's merciful and upright to his slave, he renders a good days work to his employer, and he is fair in his dealings with men. Our job is to change the way men think, to give them a new heart, so that they may live honoring God. His rule changes our conduct and directs us to uprightness of life. We read, “Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven” (Col 4:1).

We are not here for social causes, but for spiritual. Many churches give money to support the homeless, while saints struggle, pastors work second jobs, and missionaries go under furnished. Instead of caring for the church as the apostles exhort us, they build schools, start welfare programs, and devote their time to community service (Rom 15:25-27). For example, we are not to support every woman, or even every widow in the church building, but only those who've shown themselves faithful. We read, “Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relived the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work” (1 Tim 5:9-10). We see no evidence in the book of Acts or the Epistles of one penny being given to unbelievers (Acts 11:29). We don't have silver and gold for this world; we have the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Don't get into social welfare. Our Lord said, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60)! Let you and me go and preach Christ, teaching men to love Him, and they'll be good neighbors, fair policeman, and upstanding citizens.

The only freedom is in Christ, and if the Son makes you free, then you're free indeed (Ps 82:3-4). We read, “Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked”. There is no freedom in sin or wealth, nor is there freedom in living morally without God . The hope we have for sinners is not a better government, but the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:32-34). It is not earthly equality that we seek, but being one in Christ with Him. The poor you'll always have, but Jesus said that He preached the gospel to the poor (Matt 11:5).

We help sinners and deliver them from wickedness when we bring them to God, because an honest well-paying boss will still lead you to hell, and you've never been delivered from wickedness, if Christ isn't all. We preach Christ, and never get out of message.

Finally, eventually, God will win (Ps 82:5-8). He says, “Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all nations”. He will bring sinners into judgment, and He'll declare us righteous who've preached Christ in doctrine and behavior. The wicked rule now by force, heaping riches upon themselves through unjust gain, ignoring the fact that we are brothers from the same God from Adam. He says, “They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable. I said, You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.'

God will arise in due time to render the verdict that we are right to have patiently waited for Him, rather than seeking prosperity by injustice. He says, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:1-8).

Don't worry. The wicked only prosper temporarily, and God will judge this world, rewarding the faithful with equality in heaven, eternality of bliss, and damning the unjust to torments, while they forever vomit out their riches and remember that they wasted their chance to praise God with what they had.