God Stands in the Congregation of the Mighty

The Almighty God is mentioned in the context of the lesser gods, elohim, who may be the judges on Earth. A comparison is made and emphasised that these judges are mere mortals and would die like ordinary men. It is not fully clear whether these lesser judges are wicked or righteous but it seems that wickedness prevailed in that society. Hence there is a call to God to show justice and defend the poor, fatherless, afflicted, needy. Verse 5, if it refers to the judges, mean that they have not performed their duties well, hence the call to God to set things right.


Psalm 82
A Psalm of Asaph

 1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
         He judges among the gods.[a]
 2 How long will you judge unjustly,
         And show partiality to the wicked?  Selah 
 3 Defend the poor and fatherless;
         Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
 4 Deliver the poor and needy;
         Free them from the hand of the wicked.
        
 5 They do not know, nor do they understand;
         They walk about in darkness;
         All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
        
 6 I said, “You are gods,[b]
         And all of you are children of the Most High.
 7 But you shall die like men,
         And fall like one of the princes.”
        
 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
         For You shall inherit all nations.