Does God Rule Over A Council of Lesser ‘Gods’? – Michael Heiser | Part 1

00:00 – Opening: The challenging question of "gods" in the Old Testament. 01:12 – Overview: Defining the Divine Council and Spiritual Warfare worldviews. 02:16 – What is the Divine Council? Introduction to the core concept. 03:10 – Resources: Dr. Heiser’s website and archive for deeper study. 05:23 – Psalm 82 Analysis: Looking at the Hebrew text (Elohim) in context. 08:47 – Grammar & Meaning: Explaining singular vs. plural uses of "Elohim." 11:30 – Personal Journey: How this realization shifted Dr. Heiser's academic perspective. 13:12 – Sons of the Most High: Examining the judgment of the council members. 15:58 – Rise Up, O God: The call for God to judge the nations. 18:19 – Comparisons in the Psalms: Why comparing God to other "gods" is meaningful. 21:13 – Deuteronomy 32:17: The link between "gods" (Elohim) and "demons" (Shadim). 23:18 – Paul’s Perspective: How 1 Corinthians 10 reinforces the reality of these entities. Part 2: https://youtu.be/uNKD2uIVKYM Part 3: https://youtu.be/EBmqgamqMiU In this opening episode of a new series, Does God Preside Over A Council of Lesser ‘Gods’?, hosted by Dr. Michael Heiser, he introduces the “Divine Council worldview” as the central theme for the first session explaining that it is essentially a technical term for the biblical notion of the “Heavenly Host” under the authority of Yahweh, and that it forms the backdrop to much of his work, including his concept of the Deuteronomy 32 worldview that he will cover in the second session. He begins with Psalm 82, where God presides over a council of other “gods” (Elohim), showing that these beings are real, supernatural entities—sons of the Most High who are judged and condemned to die like mortals—thereby ruling out both pantheons of ancient mythology and the idea that “the gods” are merely human rulers. He then expands this framework by connecting Psalm 82 to other passages such as Deuteronomy 32:17, where Israel’s idolatrous worship of “demons” (shadim) is explicitly identified with other Elohim, and by citing Paul in 1 Corinthians 10, where Paul affirms that what pagans sacrifice is offered to real demons, not to God, thereby anchoring the Divine Council worldview in both Old Testament theology and New Testament teaching. Along the way, Heiser addresses common objections—such as treating the “gods” in Psalm 82 as mere human judges or dismissing the Elohim as mere idols—and argues that the biblical text consistently portrays these beings as real, though subordinate and ultimately judged by the one true God, challenging listeners to embrace what Scripture actually says rather than defaulting to inherited traditions that minimize or spiritualize the supernatural realm. #michaelheiser #bible #Jesus #God #Faith #Christ #Church #Prayer All rights to this material belong to their respective owners. Direct links to the original videos will always be provided when possible. This video is presented in combined format for ease of viewing and educational purposes. Channel Disclaimer: This channel is not operated by or affiliated with Dr Michael Heiser or his official platforms. Comments here do not reach Michael's team. I'm just a fan who saw a need to share his ideas in bite-sized form and make them more accessible for lay audiences here on YouTube, which I believe aligns with Dr Heiser's mission and honours his legacy. If you feel called to give back, please support the Michael S. Heiser Foundation. By joining the DRMSH Community, you are supporting the Michael S. Heiser Foundation. Your participation makes a real difference! Thank you so much, and let's keep Mike's legacy going! Join DRMSH Community here: https://community.drmsh.com/ I encourage you to visit: Dr Michael Heiser's site: http://drmsh.com/ Naked Bible Podcast: https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/