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This week’s parasha is titled Shoftim which means “Judges.” It takes us from Deuteronomy 16:18 through 21:9.
Moses was instructed to select men to be judges and officers for every town that Adonai had given to Israel. These men were to be fair in judging, always, so that controversies might be settled, injustices made right, the injured compensated, and the guilty punished.
Judges must not show favoritism to anyone. They must not take bribes to influence their decisions. Truth, righteousness and fairness must be at the heart of these judges. This points us to the One who will judge the Heavens and the Earth in truth, righteousness and holiness – Yeshua the Messiah.
Chapter 16 concludes with a strict ruling against setting up any sort of idolatrous tree or stone pillar in Israel. There was to be no worship of false gods or goddesses. Adonai – God and King of Israel will have no other so-called gods before Him.
Chapter 17 teaches us that sacrificing any animal that had a blemish or defect was irreverent, disrespectful, and sinful. Adonai must have our first and very best. This also points towards Yeshua the perfect, sinless, slain lamb of God. And what was true for Israel is also true for us. Are we giving the Lord the best of our time, talents and treasures?
Moses also enacted severe punishment for those who would engage in idolatry. Those who worshipped other so-called gods were to be put to death by stoning.
If there was a case that was too difficult for local leaders to judge, the case was to be brought to the priests or judges in the worship center that God would choose. Operating with the authority of the Spirit of God, they were the final authority and their decision must be obeyed.
Anticipating Israel’s eventual demand for a king, in chapter 17 Moses gave guidelines for the selection and the conduct of kings. Israel’s king was to have certain qualifications:
First, he had to be chosen by God. Adonai, through His prophet Samuel, chose Saul and then David. Through His prophet Nathan, Adonai would later choose Solomon. If the king was chosen by God, the people could be sure that God had gifted him to be king and the king could be trust. And, if he failed, his failure was not due to his lack of ability but due to a personal failure of his own.
The second requirement was that the king must be an Israeli. There could be no conflict of interests or loyalties on the throne of Israel.
The third requirement was that he not acquire many horses, wives or silver and gold. His focus was to be on serving God, not on wealth or pleasure.
And perhaps the most important requirement for the king was that he grow in the knowledge of the Word of God. To help ensure this, he was to write out his own copy of the Torah. He also would be expected to read it regularly and take it to heart. This would not only help him rule the people justly but would also reveal to the king the heart and character of God.
Today in our nation, I believe that we would be so much better off if our leaders were believers in the Three-In-One God who knew the Word of God.
Chapter 18 addresses the rights of the Priests and Levites. Since the tribe of Levi received no land inheritance, only cities scattered among the other tribes, the other tribes were to provide for them.
This chapter also addresses the wickedness of occult practices like divination and sorcery and sacrificing one’s children to false gods. Such offenders, along with false prophets, were to be put to death. Instead, the Jewish people are to listen to the true prophets God will send, especially the ultimate prophet like Moses – Messiah Yeshua.
In chapter 19, Moses instructed the nation to set aside three cities of refuge so that if someone accidentally killed someone else, he could go to the city of refuge for protection from the avenging relative of the man who was killed.
To this day, the distinction between premeditated murder and unintentional manslaughter is often not made, and men are sometimes killed in revenge for what was purely an accident. To prevent such a thing where possible, and to provide for the proper administration of justice, these cities were instituted.
Chapter 20, Moses gave laws for warfare. Men who were newly married, or in other significant transitions in their lives, were exempt from military service, as were those who were fearful – lest their lack of courage demoralize the other soldiers.
Nations outside of Canaan but within the larger territory promised to Abraham, were to be offered servanthood if they would declare peace with Israel. Otherwise, every adult male among them was to be slain. Of the people groups living within Canaan, not even women and children were to be spared.
God knew, and history would prove, that failure to completely destroy those wicked nations would result in His people committing the very same abominations. The lesson for us: we must separate ourselves from the values of a corrupt society.
Finally, in chapter 21, when a murder was unsolved, the town nearest where the victim was found was to sacrifice a young female cow and kill it as an atonement for the murder, so that the land would not become defiled.
This Parasha is called Shoftim – Judges. One day we will all stand before the Judge of all Eternity. At that time Judgment will already have been set.
Let’s Pray: Blessed Father, we know that we are often unfaithful, we fail, and our flesh is weak. We sin and so again we ask for daily forgiveness and cleansing.
Our prayer is that our lives will overflow with pure and holy worship, motivated by sincere love for You. May the Holy Spirit bring us to the place of absolute surrender. And grant to us increasing practical righteousness and holiness. By Your word and Spirit mold us into the very image of Yeshua the Messiah, Your Son in whose name we pray. Amen.