Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah#48: Shof’tim (Judges) D’varim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 51:12-53:12
B’rit Chadashah: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
This parashah continues with the process of G-d laying down the foundational commands/law for the Israelites as they evolve from a nomadic existence in the desert, to a nation brought to a land that G-d has prepared for them. One of the first issues on the agenda is the appointment of fair and honest judges and the abolishment of anything that is defined as idolatrous by G-d’s standards.
In the context of idolatry, G-d warns the people not to plant an Asherah tree or erect a pillar for idol worship near the Altar of HaShem. Asherah in the Bible refers to a Canaanite fertility goddess and the wooden cult objects associated with her worship. The term “Asherah” appears many times in the Tanakh often associated with practices that were condemned by G-d. The concept of placing an idolatrous symbol or worshiping it so close to the Altar of G-d may serve as an example of how easily some who “professes” to love and worship G-d, accept and assimilate pagan practices and traditions into their lives while insisting they love the G-d of Israel. A real time example is an individual who has negated G-d’s commands in favor of family traditions or popular practices such as Easter, Christmas, eating forbidden foods, and accepting the Catholic church’s adulteration of G-d’s Sabbath and Sovereignty as the only One who can absolve sin. The Pope is seen as the final authority of the Bible which they changed to meet their church replacement theology.
On the rabbinic Jewish side of the isle, Yeshiva students are taught that the sages of old and rabbis in the present have ultimate authority over how the Torah is to be interpreted and followed. The problem is two-fold: First that some rabbinic Jews place their faith and trust in the rabbis, Second, the Torah they teach is the Oral Torah filled with rabbinic law (halacha), and which is also held to equal or higher esteem than G-d’s Torah. In some cases, rabbinic laws even contradict G-d’s Law/Torah, although the intent is to explain scriptures that are not always explicit. As the judges for the fledgling community of Israel were commanded, judges voted in now are required to fulfill their position with “Justice, only Justice, you must pursue, so that you will inherit the land Adonai your G-d is giving to you. In today’s world, a judge may say. “I am not a Jew and I am not inheriting any land so this in no way applies to me.” I submit all of G-d’s commands/law apply to anyone filling this position. Remember that the people of Israel were separated out unto G-d to set the example of how G-d is to be worshipped and followed, and how we are to treat our fellow man (Deut. 6:4-11; Matt. 22:36-40).
Just to show you haw far we have fallen as a society in obedience to G-d’s commands and especially the judges in the context of judging the people let’s read Deuteronomy 16:18-20. Here Adonai is speaking to Moshe: “ You are to appoint judges and officers for all your gates [in the cities] Adonai your G-d is giving you; tribe by tribe; and they are to judge the people with righteous judgment. You are not to distort justice or show favoritism, and you are not to accept a bribe, for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of even the upright.” I am sure anyone reading or listening to this message can easily name a judge who was/is guilty of any or all of these sins against G-d’s commands.
John Adams had it right when he said in a quote from John Adams (1734-1826), a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, expresses the general sentiment among the statemen of the Founding Generation that no matter how well a constitution of constructed, it will not insure freedom and prosperity unless it is supported by a moral, virtuous population. Adams stated” Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” (https://www.oll.libertyfund.org). I need not elaborate any further.
Moshe warned the people to accept the verdict of the judges, doing what they teach which was G-d’s Torah (Deut. 17:11), turning neither to the right nor to the left from the verdict. Anyone in violation was to be put to death. This was and is G-d’s way of exterminating wickedness from Israel- all the people would hear about the verdict and outcome and would be afraid to act presumptuously. Now it is of note that there have been times and will be others that an innocent person is punished in some way, even death with Jochanan the Immerser being one example, Yahshua also tells us that we will be hated and persecuted for His namesake; that we must expect this as He was hated. But just as Yahshua submitted to Pilate and John continued to openly testify Yahshua as Messiah, those who are falsely accused and or imprisoned or killed at the hands of the unjust must revert back to that fact that G-d is in control, even in such circumstances and there may be an extraordinary opportunity to glorify G-d in whatever situation in which we find ourselves.
The concept of ignoring true teaching of G-d’s Torah by credible Torah teachers and subsequent death for such a choice will cost the offender more than the first death. Yahshua repeats this sentence through Yochanan (John) the Apostle for those who continue living unrighteously in Revelation 22:10-19 John had the following vision: “Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy in this book, because the time of their fulfillment is near. Whoever keeps acting wickedly, let him go on acting wickedly; whoever is filthy, let him go on being made filthy. Also, whoever is righteous, let him go on doing what is righteous; and whoever is holy, let him go on being made holy. ‘Pay attention!’ [says Yahshua,] “I am coming soon, and my rewards are with me to give to each person according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega (Alef and the Tav), the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’ “How blessed are those who wash their robes [repent], so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city! Recall that the judges were placed at the gates of the city to demonstrate that the city followed G-d’s commands/laws. “Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
Moving on to verse 18: “I warn everyone hearing the words of this prophecy in this book that if anyone adds to them, G-d will add to him the plagues written in this book. And if anyone takes anything away from the words in the book of this prophecy, G-d will take away his share in the Tree of Life and the holy city, as described in this book.”
Comparing the sentence of idolatry and other antinomian behaviors described in our parashah with Revelation 22:11-19 we see a serious example of “what goes around comes around.” We are told in “Mark 4:22: “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed, is meant to be brought out into the open.” 1 Timothy 5:24 reads “The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later. In the same way. Good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden”
The sooner we learn the truth of G-d’s Torah, internalize it, and live by it, the more we can fulfill our purpose in life to glorify G-d and make His Name known throughout the nations. Some people may say that they have no delusions of reaching masses of people through their lifestyle testimony for G-d. However, let me remind you that through the use of modern technology, we have the power to reach more people than we may realize. According to Isaiah 55:11: G-d’s Word will always achieve its purpose.” This verse reassures us that whatever G-d intends through his Torah will come to pass. This applies to all facets of our lives. Never underestimate your potential in serving G-d.
A subject in this parashah on which Orthodox Jews argue to this day is found in Deut. 18:15. The Gentiles divined the future from consulting soothsayers, mediums, astrologers, and the like. But G-d provided Israel a navi (prophet) like unto Himself; “ elav tishma’un (to him you shall listen.” The Orthodoxy maintains that Moshe was the greatest prophet ever. But Moshe himself stated the following words indicating there would be another: “Adonai will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, “just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested Adonai your G-d, ‘Don’t let me hear the voice of Adonai my G-d any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!’ On that occasion, Adonai said to me,’ They are right in what they are saying. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him. Whoever doesn’t listen to my words, which he will speak in my name, will have to account for himself to me.” We see fulfillment of this prophecy in John chapter 12.
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu 51:12-52:12
This is the fourth of the “seven prophecies of comfort” read between the Fast of the ninth of Av and Rosh Hashanah. So very tenderly as a righteous groom who is about to forgive his idolatrous bride, HaShem says, “Anochi, Anochi hu m’nachemchem” (I, I am he who comforts you). Adonai assures us that although Israel was punished greatly for the sin of idolatry, He will redeem her, punish those who led her astray and return His people to Zion. He escorts the exiles, (Adonai will go ahead of you, and the G-d of Israel will also be behind you (Is. 52:12) in a slow methodical processional in sharp contrast to the hasty exodus from Egypt. This haftarah reiterates the truth of a progressive salvation versus an instantaneous, all-inclusive event taught by many Christian clergy. We are also reminded that G-d is not all love. His justice will prevail against those who led Israel astray and against those who choose to follow their own ways and worship foreign gods. Although G-d’s mercy endures forever, He will return as the conquering King Yahshua with justice and righteousness (Psalm 119:137; Rev. 19:11).
B’rit Chadashah: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
In my earlier letter I wrote you not to associate with people who engage in sexual immorality. I didn’t mean the sexually immoral people outside your community, or the greedy, or the thieves, or the idol worshipers-for then you would have to leave the world altogether! No, what I wrote you was not to associate with anyone who is supposedly a brother, but who engages in sexual immorality, is greedy, worships idols, is abusive, gets drunk, or steals. With such a person you shouldn’t even eat! For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Isn’t it those who are part of the community that you should be judging? G-d will judge those who are outside. Just expel the evildoer from among yourselves.”
These verses reflect Revelation 22:11 discussed earlier in this commentary. This narrative is clear, but I want to bring your attention to a couple of things. In verse 9 Sha’ul (Paul) states “my earlier letter.” This letter has not survived except in the reference here. From this we learn that not everything Sha’ul wrote was included in G-d’s Torah. Secondly, in verse 11 we read “with such a person you shouldn’t even eat.” But we should eat with those inquiring into the faith (Acts 10:1-11:18) and with fellow believers. Paul’s instruction was not a general one. The point was and is that true believers in Yahshua should not “hang out” with those who live an antinomian lifestyle. A younger individual in the faith who may see us “paling around” with such individuals may certainly stumble in their faith, thinking it is acceptable to “mix and match” our lives, losing that separation unto G-d as a separate people who are supposed to answer to a ‘Higher Authority.” The other danger of spending time with those who have no interest in G-d’s Torah is assimilation “back to Egypt” from which G-d’s people were taken out to hear, learn, internalize, and follow G-d’s commands/law. Just as we are commanded not to mix materials, mate different animals, plant 2 different kinds of seed in the same field (Lev. 19:19), used as examples with numerous implications, we are to remain separate unto G-d, a living testimony to His greatness and His Name.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart