Psalm 82 A Difficult Psalm

2.0 Hypothesis
Psalm 82 is a difficult psalm to understand to its full extent. However, the main message is to defend those who are weak, needy, poor, have no families or are oppressed and to save them from the hand of the wicked. This theme is still relevant in today’s society as those affected by the hand of the wicked continue to need assistance from those with a voice.
3.0 Researched Interpretations
3.1 Literary form/Genre
The psalms are songs and poems which are publicly worshiped and are specifically a temple liturgy. They differ to other literary forms such as narratives, parables sermons etc. as they do not tell a story in its full entirety, nor do they focus on other bible verses. Psalm 82 is titled in different ways, however the
This is required everywhere in the Scriptures. The meaning is not that judgment is to be pronounced in their favour because they are poor, or because they are orphans, for this would be to do what they had just been charged with as in itself wrong, accepting of persons; that is, showing favour on account of condition or rank, rather than on account of a just claim. The idea is, that the poor and the fatherless, having no natural protectors, were likely to be wronged or oppressed; that they had none to defend their claims; and that magistrates, therefore, as if they were their natural protectors, should see that their rights were maintained. See the notes at Isaiah
“2How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? 3Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 4Rescue the weak and the needy; and deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
Verse two can be interpreted as God speaking to us, the people with a voice, 2How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?
Verse three can be linked to the war in Syria as the weak, fatherless, poor, and oppressed are represented as the orphans, refugees and those generally affected. Finally verse three says ‘deliver them from the hand of the wicked’ where ISIS and the Syrian government can be link to the wicked.
The Kurds and the Syrian Rebels are already fulfilling this request by God as they are fighting against ISIS and the Syrian government in attempt to rescue the weak and needy from the wicked.
The video first shows a Syrian child who explain how his community has been affected by the actions of Bashar al-Assad. He is very emotional and continues asking ‘why did he do this to us? We haven’t done anything to him?’ he finishes by saying ‘Allah is great, Allah is great’ meaning God is great and he is the most high, linking to verse eight of psalm 82, ‘8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your