Parshah Shoftim
We learn many lessons this week regarding leadership and practical matters that give us insight to Ha Shem’s idea of justice.
Torah portion: Deut 16:18-20
This parshah opens with Moses instructing the Israelites regarding the justice system that Adonai requires.
Firstly, judges and officers are appointed at the city gates. Justice is not hidden, it establishes itself in the forefront and at the beginning. It is given a place of prominence in each city right at the start of where and when you enter. Judges, officers see who enter and leave the city.
- Justice is at the start and at the end.
- Justice must not show partiality, manipulated by cunning words and phrases, or given to bribery.
- Justice must be pursued.
How can we work on pursuing justice?
We can carry this personally to our homes, and many of us have a mezuzah in our entry ways to remind us of G-d’s Torah when we go out and go in. It is a wonderful practical reminder of our dedication to Adonai when we leave our house or enter. I personally believe it also acts as a statement to who we are and a witness to those that enter.
We can carry this even further to our own bodies. We have gates that need to be watched as well. Our eyes, our ears, our mouths— which all need to be brought into His keeping and dedicated for His purposes.
Do we ask… Adonai, we want to see what You want us to see, to hear what You want us to hear and to say the words that You want us to say?
Let us all pursue His justice and ask Ha Shem how He wants us to demonstrate His unchanging truth each day to those around us so that we can be an example of His goodness, love and mercy.
Haftarah portion: Isaiah 51:12-17a
“Listen to Me, you who pursue justice and seek Adonai.” starts off the chapter of Isaiah 51. When a chapter starts with Listen to me, I think we pay particular attention.
And then moving to the Haftarah reading starting in verse 12, We see our G-d, the ultimate judge, judge of the nations who Is the consolation of Israel. He is righteous and just, and like Israel, we need to be reminded of that. We can be comforted that His ways are higher than what we can understand or grasp.
- We are not to fear and we are not to forget the awesomeness of the creator of the universe who holds the world in His hands.
- We are not to dread the oppressor or his schemes because he is not higher than our G-d, the ultimate Judge, who will bring the oppressor down low, in fact to nothingness .
- We need only to bend the knee and bow down to our Judge and we will be released from our exile, our captivity. For He is our salvation! Adonai Tzav’ot.
We have His words, in fact He will put them in our mouth!
And…He is our protection.
We only need to Awake ourselves and stand up. Do we have the needed faith— for Him to do the rest!
And Adonai did do the rest- He took away the cup of fury and in exchange gave us a cup of redemption through the atoning work of Messiah Yeshua. Again we need only to repent of our waywardness and receive His forgiveness, and we will be released from our exile, our captivity.
And then in our pursuit of justice we are to practice justice, love mercy and walk humbly before our G-d.
Brith Hadoshah: Rev19:1-5
….B’ Yom ha hu….judgement. In that day…the bowl of His wrath which is reserved for those that stand boldly against the Holy One will be poured out. Babylon will be judged and Babylon will fall, justice will prevail and exile will end, bringing the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom!
Judgement and wrath are a part of G-ds love. A love which communicates unchanging truth to His people. A people who want to be prepared for His truth and recieve His truth and not to live in rebellion.
- His judgement puts away sin, so there is no more sorrow, pain and heartbreak
- His judgement brings about salvation and healing
- His judgement brings about pardon for His servants
- His judgement prepares for His blessings to come.
We rejoice in that day for His Righteousness will shine and His glory will be revealed.
Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our G-d!