Chapter 82
8 verses, in three divisions. This is labeled a Psalm of Asaph.
First division is an appeal to God for right judgement. It asks for justice to the weak and fatherless, to those unable to help themselves.
2023 - This is more obvious when you look at vs 1: 1 A Psalm of Asaph. God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: [Psa 82:1 ESV].
2022 - This verse though:
2 "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah [Psa 82:2 ESV]. This seems to be Asaph accusing God of injustice. Whom does he think he is? Surely that cannot be what this means but I can't see any other way to read it. Checked MSB and there IS a right way to read this. This is about God himself metaphorically standing in a sort of assembly of world leaders, and it is God speaking in vs. 2. He is the one asking how long these earthly leaders will be unjust. So in that sense, the gods, with the lower case g, are the men who rule on earth. Kings, nobles, elders and so on. In this sense, we are all gods of our own households. It is in this sense that Jesus quotes this Psalm in Jn 10.34.
Second division, two verses:
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." [Psa 82:6-7 ESV]
There is much explanation on this in MSB. Jesus quotes this verse in Jn. 10:34, and says if men can be called gods, then why is it blasphemy for God's incarnate Son to call himself God! Why have I never seen or heard about this verse before? Why no sermon, that I ever remember, on John 10:34!
2025 - Remember that in one of the rebellions against Moses the people reminded him that God had called them ALL sons, not just Moses, and that was their argument for taking over from him. Now this, in vs 6, says ALL of Israel are gods, all sons of the most high. Under the New Covenant, we are adopted as sons, with full rights. But I don't think the NC EVER calls the saved "gods". Israel still has a higher place than Gentiles. I just don't think you can get around that.
Last division calls on God to judge the earth.
Not sure how this was determined to chronologically fit right here. I don't see any "hooks" to a particular time in history other than the author's name, and his Psalms have been in here right along.
2023 - Here is the quote from John...It is really longer than this and ought to be read entirely, but this gives the jist of what was going on when Jesus quoted this:
30 I and the Father are one." 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. ...
34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'? [Jhn 10:30-31, 34 ESV]
2023 - That phrase "sons of the Most High". Sons is "ubne", of the Most High is "elyon". Are these the same words used for "the sons of God looked upon the daughters of men"? No. The words used in Gen 6:4 are ben Elohim. But look at that verse in comparison to this one:
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. [Gen 6:4 ESV]. There is nothing in this sentence that "equates" Nephilim with "sons of God". I think the best way to read it is that the Nephilim were the mighty men. ALSO, during that time, kings and rulers were...confiscating let's say...the most desirable women in their kingdoms and producing many offspring - far more than could be expected from a monogamous relationship. With these things in mind...connect Gen 6:4 to Psa 82 to Jn 10, and we see that this was in no way angels breeding with the human women.