The beginning of Psalm 82 states, “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.” This is a divine council. It is the Hebrew term cowd (pronounced sode). It’s the same word that gets translated as secret in Amos 3:7: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” In this Amos verse, it represents an assembly of the prophets. In Psalm 82, it represents an assembly of gods, or at least potential gods.
This council would be like the one described in Abraham chapters 3 and 4. There would be no chapter divisions on the papyri scrolls, so when God said, “We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell” (Abraham 3:24), those sent to dwell on earth would be the same ones called “Gods” in Abraham 4, who participated in the creation of the earth.
This is a bold doctrine. Once while visiting Temple Square in Salt Lake with our family, we observed protestors quoting Deuteronomy and criticizing Joseph Smith for teaching about the generations of the gods. They thought it blasphemy that we could become like God. I was tempted to counter their argument with this psalm.
The Hebrew word for gods in Psalm 82 is ‘elohiym, the plural form of “God.” In Hebrew, the plural form is sometimes used for emphasis, and thus, the name Elohim is given for the supreme God, whom we would call “God the Father.” Verse 6 states, “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” The phrase, “Most High,” or “Most High God” is used to denote that Elohim presides over the divine council.
Bible scholars have wrestled with this psalm to determine who the audience is. Does it really mean what it says? This true doctrine was generally unpopular in Jesus’ day also. He defended Himself as they accused Him of blasphemy. They took up stones to stone Him. I love His response,
“Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
“The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
“Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
“If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
“Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” (John 10:32-36)
Jesus quotes Psalm 82. He is only asking for the same privilege already afforded and promised to all of them as “children of the Most High God,” having divine potential. How can they accuse Him of blasphemy by being the Son of God when they are sons and daughters of God with the potential to become like God?
I love the doctrine of the Family Proclamation: “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.” As I attend the temple and participate in those saving ordinances that allow us to become like our heavenly parents, I am completely overwhelmed at the promises! I cannot wrap my head around them. They seem too good to be true, and yet they are! It’s in the temple where we find out who we really are and who we can become.
