David acknowledges the existence of other gods...?

Question

"I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee." (Psalm 138:1)

Furthermore, Jesus, defending his assertion that he was the Son of God, quoted Psalm 82 by saying, "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?" (John 10:34)

But, according to Isaiah, God said there is no other god beside him. (Isaiah 44:6, 8; 45:5-6, 21-22; 46:9)

Please explain.

Answer 1

Indeed it would appear that God himself indeed acknowledges the existence of other gods. He said no other gods before me. I would imagine that interpretation comes into play on what is classified as a "god". Indeed it doesn't say you can't believe in other gods, just that none such should come before Him. Although the passage that reads there is no other god beside him changes any context. It would appear that they couldn't co exist. That said, I would imagine that if we are to put God, the Father, and His son, Jesus Christ first, any other gods around are rather insgnificant. We are first and foremost accountable to just one God. If we put Him first and acknowledge our allegiance to Him and our dependence on Him, I wonder what else matters. Heck in Palms 82:6 I believe is where it says "ye are gods, and all of you children of the Most High"

Would that make all of us gods? Would that mean that as children of God and with the possibility of being, "joint heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:16) that we can indeed inherit all that God has? Could that mean that we are not to put any one person ahead of God and we are to worship only Him? I don't know to be honest with you. I do know we are to Honor and worship God alone. I know we're to put nothing before Him, and I know that he loves us his children. So whether there is 1 God or 1 Million gods it doesn't change whom we should pay our devotions to and worship and serve.

It is a great question though and one that is an intriguing study. Thanks for asking it.

I find it interesting that dewcoons will use the analogy of a father and a son. Indeed my son will never become me, yet as he becomes the man he will be, he will have the ability to be a father and perhaps accomplish things less than equal to or greater than I, as his father. I don't think that my father has supreme authority over me, nor will I always have supreme authority over my sons. I am not implying that we shall be greater possibly than God. I just don't think that argument is as sound as you think man. I think rather it has an opposite effect than what you were trying to say. Are you saying your Dad will always be superior to you and you to any children you have?

Answer 2

Psalms 138
Notes for Verse 1
Verse 1 I will praise thee with my whole heart -- (Compare Ps 9:1).

before the gods -- whether angels (Ps 8:5); or princes (Ex 21:6 Ps 82:6); or idols (Ps 97:7); denotes a readiness to worship the true God alone, and a contempt of all other objects of worship.

Psalms 82
Notes for Verses 6,7
Verses 6,7. Though God admitted their official dignity (John 10:34), He reminds them of their mortality.

Not only Isaiah but many other places in the Bible speak of God as one, the I AM etc. The Ten Commandments!

Answer 3

WOW!!! GOOD TWIST....NOT!!! David is saying that before all the "gods of Mankind" which "Surrounded Him", he will STILL Worship & Praise the ONE TRUE GOD!!! I'm sorry, but I always wonder how it is that people like Urself can spend so much time trying to Disprove Scripture & NOT read the Whole Thing??? If U would just Acknowledge that in Psa. 82;1-8 (Not Just V.6) God is talking about how he has set these "Judges" above the people "AS IF" they were "gods" holding the power of Life & Death over them!!! Just Accept the Fact, that Scripture is NEVER WRONG!!! John

Answer 4

In the case of David, belief in other gods was common. So he was saying that even if he was in front of other gods, he still worship the true God. There are numerous references to other gods, idols, etc in the scriptures. But as Isaiah states, they are not real. David also states that in Psalm 96:5, 97:7 and others. But because there were people who believed in them, they had to be talked about in the Bible. Even today there are still people who believe in other gods. So Christians still have to address the issue of there being only one God.

In John, Jesus is quoting from Psalms 82:6,7 "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes." It is a reference to the image of God contained within each person. The divine spark called the spirit of man. It is spoken of many times throughout scripture. Those who believe in Christ become the children of God (Galatians 3:26), they share in his divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), and are heirs of God (Romans 8:17). Yet none of these imply that we become God himself.

If I have a child, he is as human as I am, he shares the same nature that I do, but he never becomes me, nor does he ever reach the same position that I have as the "creator" of the child. While we are the children of God and share his nature, we never become God. He still remains the "creator" and thus the ultimate authority.

Answer 5

"Before the god's (small g) may mean in the presence of subordinate heavenly beings (angels), or more likely, it may be a statement ridiculing the kings or gods of the pagan nations. God is supreme in the whole earth.
John 10:34 Jesus referred to Psalm 82 where the Israelite rulers and judges are called "gods" (see also Exodus 4:16:7:1). If God called the Israelite teachers gods because they were agents of God's revelation and will, how could it be blasphemy for Jesus to call himself the Son of God? Jesus was rebuking the religious leaders, because he is the Son of God in a unique unparallelled relationship of oneness with the Father.

Answer 6

yes, but a god, is someone who becomes one with Jesus Christ and gains all God has promised. Not an inanimate object or idol etc. etc.

Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and children of the most High?

1.To become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, being glorified together (Romans 8:14-18)
2. As sons (and daughters) of God, to inherit all things that the Father has (Revelation 21:7)
3.To become one with Christ, as Christ is one with the Father (John 17:20-23)
4.To sit with Christ on His throne (Rev. 3:21)
5.To receive a glorified, immortal body like the body that Christ has (Philip. 3:21)
6.To partake of the divine nature and be given all things pertaining to life and godliness, receiving glory (2 Peter 1:3-4)
7.To be made - in some way - like Christ when He returns (1 John 3:2)
8.To be made kings and priests unto God and his Father (Rev. 1:6)
9. As spirit children of God, to become partakers of his holiness (Heb. 12:9-10)
10.To be exalted by God (1 Peter 5:6)
11.To become perfect, even as our Father in Heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:48)

Answer 7

Another answerer already said it well - there are always other objects of worship and devotion, but there is only one supreme being.

Check out one of God's rants against the other supposed gods in Isaiah 46. That might help a little.

Answer 8

Item 1; you are taking it too literally. Before all these false gods and people who worship false gods, I will worship the true one God.

Item 2: Those addressed in Ps. 82 were those whose duty it was to administer justice as God would.

One could argue that, in this context, it was also put there in order to be a stumbling block to the Jews at that time Jesus walked the earth. It also showed their duplicity, and that they were judging with an unrighteous judgment.

The worst offenders of law are usually the administrators of law.

As far as item 3 in relation to item 2, as long as you understand what is being implied in item 2, there is no problem with item 3.

Answer 9

Moses worshiped a brass snake and an invisible god that sat atop a pillar besides Yahweh. The High Priest of the original Temple related revelations given by rolling colored tiles in a jar, retrieving them and placing them into a breastplate as a sign of his authority. You can find several books relating the history of the Jewish faith through the ages. It is rather recent that Judaism became monotheistic. Get over it. Our translation(s) of the Hebrew texts can't even begin to convey what the ancients thought.

Answer 10

Isaiah would only like to emphasize that belief on the Jews and those who would like to follow the Jewish traditions.
David and Jesus mentioning gods would include other beings he believed to be in the fold of heavenly hosts such as God's angels and those he believed are among with God in heaven.