The Judge of the judges.
"He judgeth among the gods"—elohim, a term sometimes used for those high in office (see Exodus 21:6; Exodus 22:8, Exodus 22:28). Called gods as being God's representatives. The psalm may be illustrated by the address of Jehoshaphat to the judges, given in 2 Chronicles 19:6, 2 Chronicles 19:7. Our Lord gives the reason for princes or judges being called "gods," in John 10:34, John 10:35, the "Word of the Lord" came to them, and gave them authority to speak and act in his name. Judges must feel that God is with them in their judgments, and they dishonour him when they give unjust or partial judgments. This may be illustrated from the custom of opening our assize courts. The idea is that the queen actually herself judges all causes, and proclamation is made in her name. She acts through delegates, but the people are to understand that, if not in person, yet in reality, she is judging them. Judges who act unworthily dishonour her. As "magistracy" was the most important work of Eastern kings, the term "judge" was used, in a general way, for all positions of public honour, authority, and responsibility. So we may take the term "judges" as suggesting all kinds of official positions in which we may stand; all places in which we are put to rule or influence others; and then we may see the claim God makes to stand in relation to them all. He is the "Judge of all judges."
I. GOD ACTS THROUGH THE JUDGES. That truth takes two forms, a lower and a higher. In the lower form, all judges, all officials, all teachers, are the Lord's delegates; standing for him, speaking and doing in his name, expressing to men his will This may be illustrated in Moses, Joshua, the so called judges, the kings, and from one point of view, the prophets. But, in the higher form, God is conceived as being actually in the judge, and what he says and does can but convey to men God's will concerning them. So our Lord said, the Father spoke by him. The true ruler and teacher reaches this higher view. And the authority of the teacher is properly recognized only when he is felt to be the voice of God.
II. GOD EXPECTS JUDGES TO BE OPEN TO HIM. So that he may work unhindered in them. The openness is indicated in the mastery of all self-pleasing, and the full willingness to be the Divine channel. All officers in Christ's Church, great and small, need to watch themselves, lest they close up their powers, so that God cannot work through them.
III. GOD TAKES STRICT ACCOUNT OF HIS JUDGES. Specially of this, whether they gave to men his message; and whether they gave it to men just as he would have it given.—R.T.