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We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 82  Listen to Psalm 82 This psalm is a word of judgement on those in positions of authority who rule unjustly. It is hard for men to be given power and honour and not to be proud of it. But God presides over ALL the earth’s rulers. He is ultimately in charge and is here seen calling to account those responsible for defending the weak and oppressed on the earth (verses 1-4). In the OT, a priority for kings and judges was to protect the powerless against all who would exploit or oppress them. “They know nothing” (verse 5) is the centre of this psalm. The rulers have no understanding of moral issues or of the moral order that God’s rule sustains. There are men like this in today’s world, in places like China, North Korea and several of the Arab states where their human rights record is very poor and the leader holds his position for life and so has much power over the ordinary person. When men like these are in charge of justice, the whole world order can be shaken. But God says that however exalted their position, they too will die just like the people they oppress. Isaiah 40:6-8 sums it up well “All men are like grass and their glory is like the flowers of the field... the grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of the Lord lasts for ever.” God is the ultimate judge and no-one is in a position of authority without God’s permission whether they acknowledge him or not. The psalm finishes with the writer asking for God’s judgement and for his perfect reign to come quickly to the whole world. This perfect kingship started with Jesus and we all look forward to him returning soon. Lord, we pray for all those in authority that they would exercise right judgement and true justice in the decisions that they make that affect other people’s lives. For us too Lord, we pray that we would have your mind when we make decisions about others.