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How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? (Psalm 82:2)
It’s been said that those who attain a position of authority or leadership will make it their sole focus to retain that position of leadership, even to the point of judging unjustly or showing partiality to the wicked.
In my book Shepherd Leadership: The Metrics That Really Matter, I wrote, “When God uses the word ‘Woe!’ we should definitely take that seriously. He uses that very word to warn shepherd leaders who were shirking their responsibility when He said, ‘Woe to those shepherds who only take care of themselves’ (Ezekiel 34:2).”
God is the Ultimate Judge, yet while we are here on earth He chooses to allow men and women to be leaders and judges. We can do this in a God-honoring way only when we lead and judge like God.
In this psalm, God Himself calls out the ungodly practices that self-serving leaders employ to keep themselves popular and in their positions of leadership:
- partiality = wickedness
- biases = wickedness
- apathy = wickedness
- injustice = wickedness
- ignoring = wickedness
- seeking earthly applause = wickedness
- taking advantage of others = wickedness
Instead, God calls on leaders to lead according to the principles He both exhibits Himself and lists for us in the Bible. Things like…
- defending the poor
- serving as a father to the fatherless
- dispensing justice to the disempowered
- speaking up for the voiceless
- standing up to the wicked
- and doing all of these things in a way that God is glorified
I must always remember why I am in any position of leadership: God chose me for that position and placed me there to do His justice in the world.
A mark of a godly leader is one who is doing God’s justice in God’s way.
This is part 57 in my series on godly leadership. You can check out all of my posts in this series by clicking here.
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There is a lot of talk about “social justice”—speaking out and acting on behalf of those who are oppressed, marginalized and disenfranchised. This is close to God’s heart, too, as He describes “pure religion” in terms of caring for orphans and looking after widows (see 
Craig T. Owens 