Divine Council

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J

jaybird88

Guest
#1
#1
Psalm 82
A Psalm of Asaph.

82
God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2“How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

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.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!

What is this Divine counsel? Where does it take place, whats its purpose and is it still here today?
This thread is not so much about who are the gods but what is the council? However feel free to derail if you like.
 
KJV1611

KJV1611

Banned
#2
Nov 23, 2013
13,684
1,212
113
#2
jaybird88 said:
Psalm 82
A Psalm of Asaph.

82
God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2“How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

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.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!

What is this Divine counsel? Where does it take place, whats its purpose and is it still here today?
This thread is not so much about who are the gods but what is the council? However feel free to derail if you like.
Click to expand...
The KJV calls it the congregation of the mighty, it's talking about the leaders of the children of Israel.
 
J

jaybird88

Guest
#3
#3
KJV1611 said:
The KJV calls it the congregation of the mighty, it's talking about the leaders of the children of Israel.
Click to expand...
ESV calls it council and others assembly. of the divine.
you think they were rulers of Israel and not rulers of nations?
 
KJV1611

KJV1611

Banned
#4
Nov 23, 2013
13,684
1,212
113
#4
jaybird88 said:
ESV calls it council and others assembly. of the divine.
you think they were rulers of Israel and not rulers of nations?
Click to expand...
Psalm 82:6 KJV
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

He calls them the children of the most high so I would think they would have to God's people. I could be wrong though.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#5
Jun 30, 2015
25,495
13,800
113
#5
I recommend the work of Dr. Michael Heiser on this subject. His videos are available on YouTube.

He is a scholar of ancient Semitic languages and has a broad understanding of the culture of the ancient Middle East. According to him, the council is made of "elohim" - non-God beings that don't have physical bodies... not Jewish leaders.
 
KJV1611

KJV1611

Banned
#6
Nov 23, 2013
13,684
1,212
113
#6
Dino246 said:
I recommend the work of Dr. Michael Heiser on this subject. His videos are available on YouTube.

He is a scholar of ancient Semitic languages and has a broad understanding of the culture of the ancient Middle East. According to him, the council is made of "elohim" - non-God beings that don't have physical bodies... not Jewish leaders.
Click to expand...
John 10:34 KJV
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

What passage do you think Jesus is quoting here?
 
KJV1611

KJV1611

Banned
#7
Nov 23, 2013
13,684
1,212
113
#7
This is Michael Heiser's view of Psalm 82. I do not agree with him.


 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#8
Jul 2, 2011
21,433
6,708
113
#8
jaybird88 said:
Psalm 82
A Psalm of Asaph.

82
God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2“How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

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.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!

What is this Divine counsel? Where does it take place, whats its purpose and is it still here today?
This thread is not so much about who are the gods but what is the council? However feel free to derail if you like.
Click to expand...
It may help for all knowing the word used for God in the original Hebrew would be Elohim, plural even when applied to God. Elohim also means the mighty ones, and when applied to our Maker means God while when applied to others it simply means mighty ones.
 
JimmieD

JimmieD

Senior Member
#9
Apr 11, 2014
895
18
18
#9
jaybird88 said:
Where does it take place, whats its purpose and is it still here today?
Click to expand...
Whatever it is, Psalm 82 reads as if they're sentenced to death by Yahweh for their failure to rule justly, defend the weak, needy, orphans, and destitute. They're further condemned for their complete ignorance. So I suppose they're dead.
 
J

jaybird88

Guest
#10
#10
Dino246 said:
I recommend the work of Dr. Michael Heiser on this subject. His videos are available on YouTube.

He is a scholar of ancient Semitic languages and has a broad understanding of the culture of the ancient Middle East. According to him, the council is made of "elohim" - non-God beings that don't have physical bodies... not Jewish leaders.
Click to expand...
i agree with heiser that they were heavenly beings. i have always wondered what happened to this council, is it still up there or did the Most High disband it? do the elohim in the psalm make up all the rulers, did any of the rulers do a good job?
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#11
Jul 2, 2011
21,433
6,708
113
#11
JimmieD said:
Whatever it is, Psalm 82 reads as if they're sentenced to death by Yahweh for their failure to rule justly, defend the weak, needy, orphans, and destitute. They're further condemned for their complete ignorance. So I suppose they're dead.
Click to expand...
Your have rightly described the country(ies) which have turned their backs on God, all who turn their backs on the widow, the orphan, and the stranger have done so. God bless you and keep truth always, amen.
 
U

unctus

Active member
#12
Nov 2, 2018
188
27
28
#12
jaybird88 said:
What is this Divine counsel? Where does it take place, whats its purpose and is it still here today?
Click to expand...
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#13
Jul 31, 2013
37,844
13,558
113
#13
KJV1611 said:
Psalm 82:6 KJV
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

He calls them the children of the most high so I would think they would have to God's people. I could be wrong though.
Click to expand...
we know He has called His children from every people, tho, and it isn't by natural birth, but by faith

v.5 "all the foundations of the earth"
v.8 "all the nations"

i don't think this is only about Israel.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#14
#14
KJV1611 said:
John 10:34 KJV
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

What passage do you think Jesus is quoting here?
Click to expand...

I would also refer to Revelation 20 and the 24 thrones to answer about the present and future state of the council of elders. One of the thrones of judgement is David's. Another is Aaron's, which traditionally pass to the High Priest of Israel.


As for the Psalm I believe it refers to humans entrusted with divine authority to judge God's people, who abuse their authority and don't fulfill the responsibility to teach God's people His laws. Back in Jesus day it was the Pharisees, scribes, high priests, etc.

Today it may be applied to false prophets, teachers, priests, ministers, etc.
 
J

jaybird88

Guest
#15
#15
Ariel82 said:
I would also refer to Revelation 20 and the 24 thrones to answer about the present and future state of the council of elders. One of the thrones of judgement is David's. Another is Aaron's, which traditionally pass to the High Priest of Israel.


As for the Psalm I believe it refers to humans entrusted with divine authority to judge God's people, who abuse their authority and don't fulfill the responsibility to teach God's people His laws. Back in Jesus day it was the Pharisees, scribes, high priests, etc.

Today it may be applied to false prophets, teachers, priests, ministers, etc.
Click to expand...
Immortal humans?
 
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