Psalm 82: a warning to the rulers and the judges
This psalm is a warning to the wicked rulers and judges of Israel, who, in the writer’s own words, “give unjust judgments and uphold the prestige of the wicked” (verse 2). It addresses its audience in the voice of God.
It starts by portraying God as sitting in the “divine assembly” and giving judgment, and verses 2 through 7 relay His message to those judges and rulers. Verse 7 in particular is quite clear in its verdict: “You will die as human beings do, as one man, princes, you will fall.” The writer ends the psalm by entreating God to arise and “judge the world”.
It is quite clear that the writer was frustrated with the rulers of that time. As we read through Israel’s history, we find that problems arose with the judges and rulers quite often. Being a theocracy, with its judges and rulers supposedly elected by God, it was quite hard to speak out against them. All one could do was to pray. This psalm is one such prayer. Only prophets dared speak out, and when they did, they risked imprisonment or death — the Bible attests to this.
This psalm underlines the problems inherent in theocracies. When rulers can hide behind religion, they can use it as a powerful excuse to commit crimes against humanity and to trample upon people’s rights. The concept of separation of church and state is a truly enlightened one, and should continue to be the standard for all the governments out there.
We don’t have to look very far back in our history to see just how disastrous it can be to allow the church to control the state. The Dark Ages weren’t called dark for just any reason. That’s when the papacy, through the church, controlled all of the governments in what was then the “civilized” world. Any view contrary to the church was squashed. Kings were deposed for opposing the popes, and corruption, vice and greed ruled freely. When salvation could be easily bought from priests, there was no incentive to lead righteous lives. That’s also when horrible instruments of torture were invented and perfected by the Inquisitors. It took a secular power — that of Napoleon — to shake things up and start the beginning of a new world order.
I tell you, in as much as I am a Christian, I’d rather have a secular government that cannot use God as an excuse for their corruption and criminal behavior.
