v 1a God takes His stand in His own congregation;
When God stands He is going to act. Or when God stands
He is moved. Anytime I think about God standing I think
of the stoning of Stephen. God could not sit on the throne
and watch one of His children die. It is the same here. God
has to make a change, because the leaders are not judging
correctly.
v 1b He judges in the midst of the rulers.
Leaders in the church will receive a stricter
judgment. Those who teach lead others. And they will
effect the way other people will grow in Christ. It is good
to be a leader but there will be a stricter judgment.
Ezekiel talks of leaders that have led the people astray.
v 2 How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality
to the wicked?
The ways of the world entice. Money flows from people
that know the ways of the world. The world will accept
those that agree with them. We all want acceptance from
others. To counter this we need to look to God for
acceptance. Our peace and fulfillment should flow from
Him.
This next verse explains what God's leaders should be
doing.
v 3a Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Many look at the fatherless as less of a person and a reject.
People look at themselves this way when they don't have a
father. A leader will teach these people how to overcome
their basis and others basis against them.
v 3b Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
How do we do justice? Treat people the way they are
supposed to be treated. Jesus identifies with the poor. Matt.
25 talks about how we serve Jesus when we serve the poor.
Isa 58 shows the importance of helping the poor and the
reward of God's light to those that do.
v 4 Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
Job used his influence
and money to help these people. James said that true
religion is to help the poor. 1 John says that we don't have
love if we don't help the poor.
v 5a They do not know nor do they understand;
The leaders are clueless of how to lead. The ministry of the
Holy Spirit is not with them! They are blind guides leading
the blind.
v 5b They walk about in darkness;
1 John says that if we don't have love we are blind.
Christians are known for the love they have for one
another. If we don't love others as the Scirptures ask us to,
we can't see. Faith works through love. If there is no love
there is no effective faith. And if we are not effective we
will not be an influence in the world.
v 5c All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
This could mean that what we do will effect the earth and
those who live here. We effect the world either good or
bad.
v 6 I said you are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.
Jesus refereed to this passage. There is nothing we can't do.
Genesis. What we desire God will give us. We can create
just as God can. We are new creatures in Christ and we
work together with Him to reach the world with the gospel.
v 7 Nevertheless you will die like men, and fall like any one
of the princes.
Though God has given us all power in the sense that He
will answer our prayers of faith. Mountains can be moved
and Churches can be built. Our life on earth is finite and we
only have so much time. We are to number our days and
show wisdom in what we do.
v 8Arise, O God, judge the earth! for it is Thou who dost
possess all the nations.
Though God has given us so much we must remember that
God is the ultimate power. Through Him we can change the course of the world. Peoples lives stand in the balance. What we do makes a difference.
