“God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:”
MAIN POINT: Jesus sits above everyone and He determines the priorities of the universe. And His priorities are the care of the poor, the widow, the foreigner, the orphan and the oppressed.
We know this is Jesus in Psalm 82 sitting in judgement over all things because Jesus has position but He also has the priorities of God’s heavenly court.
How do I know I have the heart of God? How do I know if I am singing off the same song sheet as Jesus? Imagine for a moment I have been called into the office to have a conversation with Jesus. There we are saying hi, getting comfortable and Jesus asks if I want a coffee and I say, yes please. And then after a little bit of small talk. Jesus askes, well how do you like your position in my kingdom? And I say, “Oh Jesus it’s great, thanks, I love it.” And then He says, then I am just wondering, William, do you know what my kingdom priorities are? And I’m a bit uncomfortable because I wonder if this is some trick question. How to answer Jesus is the question of the heavenly court. And Jesus supplies the answer.
“Enough! You’ve corrupted justice long enough, you’ve let the wicked get away with murder. You’re here to defend the defenseless, to make sure that underdogs get a fair break; Your job is to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them.”
Psalms 82:2-4 The Message (MSG)
In fact this is a clear theme in God’s word.
Jesus gave a similar answer to the followers of John the baptist and James the brother of Jesus tells us plainly this is true religion. When Job is defending himself before God, he makes it clear that he had these kingdom priorities.
God/Jesus is sitting in court and He is judging the powers that be. Ephesians 1:3, 10, 22, 3:10, 6:12 show us the same scene as in Psalms 82, but by time you get to Ephesisans 6:12 Jesus is ready for you to go to war about this problem. He will get justice for the poor, the oppressed, the orphan and the widow and you will suit up in the armour of God and do battle in prayer against the oppressors and the evil spiritual forces. And James tells us how we must demonstrate the power of our faith in Christ’s kingdom. In fact the way you get promoted in the kingdom is to be made poor.
“Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.”
And we must show our faith by helping the poor (James 2).
I should not have to convince myself or anyone else of this fact. If we don’t get this fundamental priority of the kingdom of God then we have missed the whole point of why Jesus came, who we are, what Jesus did, and what His priorities are. In fact Luke shows us care for the poor was embedded in the culture of the first church (Acts 2:43-46). Jesus never stopped healing the sick or feeding the poor or defending the oppressed against the oppressor. He delegated the task to you and me to do with Him, in His power and authority.
If Jesus didn’t lead by example then what was He doing? Paul tell us in Philippians 2:7 that Jesus “gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave”.
“But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
Matthew 8:20
Jesus reminds the church of its real condition in Revelation 3:17, “You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” This is the reason for the incarnation, for Jesus' way of working. He became like us. He expects us to take on the same methods and priorities.
And this is why Psalm 82 makes it clear that God is hopping mad about how things are going. See, the enemies of Jesus want to make other priorities. Jesus lived as a stranger, and a foreigner and a pilgrim. He was an ambassador. He was not settling down, He was here to deliver a message in word and in deed. He was here to show the kingdom way.
“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
I have recently been enjoying cleaning the toilet and mopping the floors at Het Goede Boek Leuven. Because it feels like a core business function. It feels like a privileged position. In the church we should see the position of servant as the place of promotion. Satan wants us to think otherwise, and you may be looking to certain passages to protect your exalted position, but could it be that the apostles were not demonstrating wisdom and that they lost the plot and missed an opportunity because they thought service was below them? Do you see that the real expansion of the kingdom happens under Stephen and Phillip, the deacons, and later Paul? Could it be that Acts 6:2-3 is not prescriptive, but actually descriptive of a wobble in kingdom priorities. Jesus didn’t seem to have a problem balancing the kingdom action with the kingdom words.
Satan is a very cunning enemy and he’ll appeal to all your senses. Feed yourself and secure your position were His temptations to Jesus. And Jesus said no and then lived a no to pride and the selfish life. In the end, the servant will sit on the throne with Jesus and will just like Psalm 82, judge the angels (1 Corinthians 6:3) .
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Conclusion:
Are my priorities the same as that of the judge of the universe?
“Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows.”
“For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.”
“At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
(Isaiah 1:16-17,58:6-7, 1 John 3:17-19, Matthew 25:34-46, Deuteronomy 10:18, 14:29, Psalms 10:14, 146:9, 103:6, Proverbs 23:10-11, Jeremiah 49:11, Hosea 14:3, Malachi 3:5, Luke 6:20-21, 4:16-19, 11:39-42, 12:16-21, 14:12-14, 16:19-25, Mark 10:21-22, 12:41-44)
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