'Gods' as judges: Calvin and Zylstra

At the beginning of the month, I reviewed Robert Alter's Psalter and noted one area of disagreement, namely, his interpretation of Psalm 82, which he sees as a mythological vestige of Canaanite polytheism. By contrast, I've always seen it as God addressing earthly rulers claiming divinity who are remiss in their practical responsibilities to do justice within their jurisdictions. This is reflected in my own versification (© David T. Koyzis) as set to the proper Genevan tune:

Judging among divine pretenders,
in council God his verdict renders:
"How long," says he, "shall wickedness
be favoured over righteousness?
Give justice to the poor and needy,
rescue the helpless from the greedy.
Treat widows as is right and fair,
defend all orphans in your care.

"Blindly you grope about and stumble,
while earth's foundations start to crumble.
Gods you may think yourselves to be,
yet you shall taste mortality.
Like earthly kings whose days are numbered,
death's claim on you will not be cumbered."
Rise up, O God, and judge the earth,
to you the nations owe their birth.

John Calvin agrees with this interpretation, as seen in his Commentary on the Psalms. Commenting on the first verse, the Genevan Reformer writes:

It is unquestionably a very unbecoming thing for those whom God has been pleased to invest with the government of mankind for the common good, not to acknowledge the end for which they have been exalted above others, nor yet by whose blessing they have been placed in so elevated a station; but instead of doing this, contemning every principle of equity, to rule just as their own unbridled passions dictate. So infatuated are they by their own splendor and magnificence, as to imagine that the whole world was made only for them. Besides, they think that it would derogate from their elevated rank were they to be governed by moderate counsels; and although their own folly is more than enough to urge them on in their reckless career, they, notwithstanding, seek for flatterers to soothe and applaud them in their vices. To correct this arrogance, the psalm opens by asserting, that although men occupy thrones and judgment-seats, God nevertheless continues to hold the office of supreme ruler. . . . But here, as also a little after, the name gods is to be understood of judges, on whom God has impressed special marks of his glory. To apply it to angels is a fancy too strained to admit of serious consideration [emphasis mine].

Calvin here notes the all-too-common tendency for rulers to esteem themselves too highly and to surround themselves with sycophants and yes-men. No, these are not a heavenly council of divine beings over which YHWH presides; they are earthly judges.

In 1953 Calvin College professor Henry Zylstra (1909-1956) penned his own metrical versification of Psalm 82 which found its way into successive editions of the Christian Reformed Church's Psalter Hymnal. This version reflects Calvin's interpretation:

There where the judges gather,
a greater takes his seat;
“How long,” he asks the judges,
“will you pronounce deceit?
How long show special favour
to those of ill repute?
How long neglect the orphaned,
the poor and destitute?

“Deal justly with the needy,
protect the fatherless,
deliver the afflicted
from those who would oppress.
But you are wholly blinded,
you do not understand;
therefore foundations totter,
injustice rocks the land.”

God speaks: “I named you rulers,
sons of the Most High God;
but you shall die as mortals
and perish by my rod.”
Arise, O God, in judgment,
your sov’reignty make known;
for yours are all the nations,
the peoples are your own.