Rise Up, O God, Judge the Earth

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Rise Up, O God, Judge the Earth

Date: Nov. 15, 2021

Passage

Psalm 82:1-8 (ESV)

A Psalm of Asaph.

1   God has taken his place in the divine council;
    in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2   “How long will you judge unjustly
    and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3   Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4   Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5   They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
    they walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6   I said, “You are gods,
    sons of the Most High, all of you;
7   nevertheless, like men you shall die,
    and fall like any prince.”
8   Arise, O God, judge the earth;
    for you shall inherit all the nations!

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 82:8

Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!

This psalm is about God’s justice and judgment. God is the only truly righteous judge. The word “gods” in this psalm (1,5,6) refers to human judges. Many people in history have regarded themselves as “gods.” These human judges, whether Jewish or Gentile, were not making fair judgment. Rather, they were siding with the wicked and the unjust. Human judgment is often ignorant, like walking in darkness. But human rulers will die just like everyone else.

The psalm closes in prayer, “Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance” (8). He appeals to God to defend the weak, the fatherless, the poor, and the oppressed—those who have no defense. Only God is qualified to judge correctly, because the world and everything in it belongs to God.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord God, how often we are prone to bad judgment, so may I not play the judge. Worldly rulers use their authority according to their own whims and standards. But you are the righteous Judge and everything and everyone belongs to you. Judge in righ

One Word: One Word: God’s judgment is just and right

God Delivers Us from Evil

Micah 2:1-13

Key Verse: 2:12

  I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob;
    I will gather the remnant of Israel;
  I will set them together
    like sheep in a fold,
  like a flock in its pasture,
    a noisy multitude of men.

Today's Question

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