Psalm 82 has always been a bit of a puzzler for me. While brief, it is a little difficult to understand just what is going on.
Verse 1 sets the stage in an apparent divine council. The Lord God is described as being in the midst of other "gods." There He brings a charge against them [these other gods] that they are judging unjustly and showing partiality. Specifically the orphans and widows are being denied justice (vs. 3). The weak and needy, too, are cited as needing deliverance from the wicked (vs. 4).
It is only later, in verse 6, that we see the Psalmist describe who these other "gods" are - they are the corrupt leaders of Israel who, although they are sons of the Most High and thus should be gods themselves (in a fashion), they will die a mortal's death because of their ignorance and corruption.
The psalm ends with a plea for God to rouse Himself and come judge the earth. He is revealed not as co-equal among many gods, but as the ruler of all the nations!
Despite my difficulty in understanding this psalm, it was specifically cited by Jesus in his dialogue with the people when they were about to stone Him for blasphemy. Of particular interest to Him was verse 6: "I say, 'You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you." This appears in John 10:34.
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