09/11/2026
Todayโs Devotional: โThe One True Godโ
In a powerful and poetic way, Psalm 82 declares the one true ๐๐ผ๐ฑ and distinguishes Him from the many so-called ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐.
While ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐ is often a reference to idols throughout Scripture, in this psalm these so-called ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐ are identified as powerful rulers of Israel who are part of the congregation of ๐๐ผ๐ฑ, namely, the people of ๐๐ผ๐ฑ. Though these rulers can be called ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐ because they have a semblance of power, they are inferior to ๐๐ผ๐ฑ because He truly stands over them.
While they have human authority, ๐๐ผ๐ฑ condemns them for wielding it โunrighteouslyโ and showing โpartiality to the wickedโ (82:2). While they position themselves as ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐, ๐๐ผ๐ฑ mocks them since they will die like mortal men (82:6โ7). While they are supposed to be judges (82:2), ๐๐ผ๐ฑ will be the only one to judge the earth (82:8). The failing authority of manโthese so-called ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐โamplifies the true authority of ๐๐ผ๐ฑ.
Appealing to this psalm in John 10:34โ36, Jesus distinguished between the authority of men and the authority of ๐๐ผ๐ฑ. He noted that if men who have limited authority can be called ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐ (John 10:35), then ๐๐ผ๐ฑ who has absolute authority must be acknowledged as the one and only true ๐๐ผ๐ฑ (10:36). Applying this to Himself, Jesus said that if the rulers in His day could be called ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐ on account of their limited authority, how much more should He be confessed as ๐๐ผ๐ฑ for demonstrating full authority over all creation. If those in Christโs day had seen the lesser authority of ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐, His power showed His ultimate authority as ๐๐ผ๐ฑ Himself.
The only proper response we can have to Jesus is captured in Thomasโ words: โMy Lord and my ๐๐ผ๐ฑ!โ (John 20:28).
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