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Shoftim – Judges
Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12-52:12
Gospel Acts 10-12
Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12-52:12
Gospel Acts 10-12
This sidra begins in Deuteronomy 16:18, “You shall appoint for yourself
judges and officers in all your towns which the L-rd your G-d is giving
you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with
righteous judgment.:” What an awesome task to serve as a judge. We
all want a fair judge when we need one.
We are like a miniature city. Our eyes and ears are the gates to our
city; they allow pictures, sounds and feelings to come in. But not
everything is good for your city. We need those in authority over us
to be judges and officers at our gates to remind us of G-d’s commands.
In this city of refuge in space or time. It is a month of sanctuary and
repentance, a protected time in which a person can turn from the
short comings of their past and dedicate themselves to a new and
sanctified future. There are two phases in teshuvah or repentance.
First there is remorse over what has been done, and then a
commitment to act differently in the future. To be contrite about the
past without changing one’s behavior is a hollow gesture. At every
stage of one’s life there is the possibility of some short coming for
which there must be refuge and atonement. The task of the month of
Elul is to self exam. To ask oneself whether what they have achieved
was all that could have been achieved, and if not then to change one’s
life. Elul is the burial of the past for the sake of a better future. It is
the necessary preparation for the blessing of Rosh HaShanah, the
promise of plenty and fulfillment in the year to come.
In Deuteronomy 17:15 the Scriptures read, “You shall surely set a King
over you whom the L-rd your G-d chooses, one from among your
countrymen…” The title “Messiah” is a title for the King of Israel. To
be a true “King of the Jews” but their pedigrees were not Jewish.
They were not legitimate heirs or Kings of Israel. The true Messiah
must be Torah observant. He is required to write for himself a copy of
the Torah in the presence of the Levitical priest. The Torah instructed
the King in the laws of G-d that were specific for the King of Israel.
He was not to multiply horses or wives. He was to copy and study the
Torah all the days of His life. He was to observe all the statutes and
not turn from the commandments. Every King of Israel was called a
Messiah. Yeshua is the ultimate King of Israel and was completely
Torah observant. He perfectly fulfilled the requirements of the King
Israel. Yeshua has written His most valuable document on the thing He
treasures the most which is your heart (2 Cor. 3:3; Jer. 31:32). If King
Messiah considers your heart to be this valuable then stand as guard
over this treasure. Honor the place He has chosen so that it is not
defiled. Then you will stand joyfully before Him at the final judgment
and He will say, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
judges and officers in all your towns which the L-rd your G-d is giving
you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with
righteous judgment.:” What an awesome task to serve as a judge. We
all want a fair judge when we need one.
We are like a miniature city. Our eyes and ears are the gates to our
city; they allow pictures, sounds and feelings to come in. But not
everything is good for your city. We need those in authority over us
to be judges and officers at our gates to remind us of G-d’s commands.
In this city of refuge in space or time. It is a month of sanctuary and
repentance, a protected time in which a person can turn from the
short comings of their past and dedicate themselves to a new and
sanctified future. There are two phases in teshuvah or repentance.
First there is remorse over what has been done, and then a
commitment to act differently in the future. To be contrite about the
past without changing one’s behavior is a hollow gesture. At every
stage of one’s life there is the possibility of some short coming for
which there must be refuge and atonement. The task of the month of
Elul is to self exam. To ask oneself whether what they have achieved
was all that could have been achieved, and if not then to change one’s
life. Elul is the burial of the past for the sake of a better future. It is
the necessary preparation for the blessing of Rosh HaShanah, the
promise of plenty and fulfillment in the year to come.
In Deuteronomy 17:15 the Scriptures read, “You shall surely set a King
over you whom the L-rd your G-d chooses, one from among your
countrymen…” The title “Messiah” is a title for the King of Israel. To
be a true “King of the Jews” but their pedigrees were not Jewish.
They were not legitimate heirs or Kings of Israel. The true Messiah
must be Torah observant. He is required to write for himself a copy of
the Torah in the presence of the Levitical priest. The Torah instructed
the King in the laws of G-d that were specific for the King of Israel.
He was not to multiply horses or wives. He was to copy and study the
Torah all the days of His life. He was to observe all the statutes and
not turn from the commandments. Every King of Israel was called a
Messiah. Yeshua is the ultimate King of Israel and was completely
Torah observant. He perfectly fulfilled the requirements of the King
Israel. Yeshua has written His most valuable document on the thing He
treasures the most which is your heart (2 Cor. 3:3; Jer. 31:32). If King
Messiah considers your heart to be this valuable then stand as guard
over this treasure. Honor the place He has chosen so that it is not
defiled. Then you will stand joyfully before Him at the final judgment
and He will say, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
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