Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

• Psalm 50- Prophecy against ritualized worship and hypocrisy • Psalm 75- Prophecy of the person whom God promotes • Psalm 78- Prophecy of the parables of God • Psalm 81- Prophecy of the significance of the Passover • Psalm 82- Prophecy against the unjust judges

It is divided into three sections:

I GOD PRESIDES OVER HEAVEN’S COURT - 1,2 II GIVE FAIR JUDGMENT - 3-5 III GODS AND CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH - 6-8

INTRODUCTION:

“A psalm of Asaph.”

This simple title reveals Asaph in his full prophetic office confronting the corrupt rulers of the land with God’s words. He might have written this after the death of David when the kingdom of Solomon was sliding into idolatry and decay.

I GOD PRESIDES OVER HEAVEN’S COURT - 1,2

God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the judges: How long will you judges hand down unjust decisions? How long will you shower special favors on the wicked? Interlude (1,2) There is a supreme court in heaven to which all judges must answer; there is a chief justice who weighs every decision issued in the court systems of the nations. Daniel describes this heavenly court vividly in his vision of the four beasts: “I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like whitest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire flowed from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him, and a hundred million stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened.” (Dan. 7:9, 10) The judges of Israel had become corrupt and God sternly warned them to cease from handing down unjust decisions and using their God-ordained power to give advantage to evil people. Jesus is very clear about his judicial authority: “And the Father leaves all judgment to his Son, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father.”(Jn. 5:22, 23) God is very concerned that our earthly courts treat the misfortunate with absolute equity and fair- ness: • “Give fair judgment to the poor and the orphan:” (3) • “…uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.” (3) • “Rescue the poor and helpless;” (4) • “…deliver them from the grasp of evil people.” (4) “But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! And because they are in darkness, the whole world is shaken to the core.”(5) The decisions of the judges are at the core of the values of a society and when they go bad, every- thing is lost. When Jesus spoke to the Rabbis and quoted this psalm, he was implying that they were the oppressors who were in darkness and knew nothing. Now the scene is set for the most technical ar- gument Jesus had to face with the judges of the Jewish nation. II GIVE FAIR JUDGMENT - 3-5

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