8.26.25 ~ Societies #1 Taboo

Good morning!

In last night's zoom call, we spent the evening talking about the most over emphasized topic and under performed topic in all of modern evangelicalism: Judging/shoftim and enforcing/shoftrim (Deut. 16:18-20)

You shall appoint judge/shoftim and officers/shoftrim in all your gates/sharar, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. (Deut. 16:18)

This week's Torah portion, shoftim/judges (Deut. 16:18-21:9), continues our progressive covenantal theme through the book of Deuteronomy (listen, do, see, and specifics on how to do).

As we covered, in last night's zoom call, in fairly significant and practical detail, the importance of judging one another and God's way of doing it, we came to a conclusion that judging is not just a negative function. In fact, it should be just the opposite. The purpose of 'judging' is to lift someone up, not tear them down. Unfortunately, because 'judging' has such a negative stigma attached to it, that the common phrase, "quit judging me" is often heard ringing through the ears of hallowed halls or empty houses.

It's a topic that is frequently looked at as 'taboo' in today's society. Within our text, Deuteronomy 16:18-20, we are commanded to have judges, those who determine justice, and officers, those who enforce the justice, at each of the gates/sharar (Deut. 16:18). Not only was this to be true of the multiple gated cities that were walled, but there is an inference to us putting judges and officers at each gates/sharar of our lives (eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth gates). Unfortunately, with this necessary topic, much of our 'judging' one another is done with 'big honking logs' in our own eyes and we find ourselves beating one another up as we try to do microsurgery on our friends eyes (Matt. 7:1-4)

Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you dish it out, it shall be measured to you again.  And why do you notice the speck that is in your brother's eye, but  don'tconsider the beam (big honking log :-) that is in your own eye? Or how will you say to  your brother, Let me pull out the speck out of your eye; and, behold, a beam (big honking log :-) is in your own eye? (Matt. 7:1-4)

It's here that we often get in trouble when fulfilling the commands to judge one another's lives. Too often, when we get into that 'judging mode' towards our friend or family member, we forget to examine our own lives first and ask, "why am I getting triggered over that behavior"? Could it be the Romans 2:1-4 syndrome? Look it up and see what I mean?

And too often, we pass judgment on others based on our cultural upbringing not according to the righteous standard of God's Word (Isa. 11:3,4; Jn. 7:24). Consequently, we see the way we think/sharar as normal and right.

For as he thinks/sharar in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, says he to thee; but his heart is not with  you (Prov. 23:7)

Hence, the more time we spend  in the Word conforming our lives to His Word, the more time we will boldly come before the throne of grace to find mercy and grace for our own life (Heb. 4:16). And the more we will be seeking the foundation of His throne, justice and judgment; relying on His determinations into my life to be saturated with mercy and truth (Psa. 89:14).

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. (Psa. 89:14,15)

The Apostle Paul reiterates the command for us to have judges and officers at every gate of our lives, when he instructs us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah (2 Cor. 10:4-6).

Seeing the judges/shoftim, who bring judgment/mishpatim  within these verses is easy, but more times than not we miss the officer/shotrim portion of the verses...be ready to take vengeance/mishpat/judgment on every act of disobedience , when your obedience is full (2 Cor. 10:6). What does that mean?

and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Cor. 10:6)

God's instructions/torah is the standard for righteousness and justice. The vengeance that Paul speaks of is the responsibility of the community to uphold God's honor by enforcing the law against those who are in covenant disregard His judgments/mishpatim.

Why confront the offenders? Why judge the offenders? Why punish the offenders? It's really for one reason: To keep the sacred camp free of contamination and prevent the individual from living a life bogged down in curses. This isn't retribution on behalf of the judges/shoftim. It's about upholding the honor of God and the holiness of His law/instructions/torah.

I can look back on my journey of life and with perfect hindsight, I am so glad I had people step forward to hold a mirror to my face. I needed that wake up call. I needed to get out of the doldrums of life. Their love got me out of the quagmire rut I was in! The timing was right. And most of all, they made sure they didn't have a log in their own eye when they pulled the speck out of my eye (Matt. 7:1-4).

Sometimes there needs to be a stern realignment of an individual, but more than not there needs to be a clear boundary set up. And, if the boundary is crossed then punishment becomes the vehicle that leads to repentance and restoration...isn't this how every successful society functions? Isn't that how every championship team functions? Isn't that how every successful business is run? Should it be any different in the spiritual realm?

What is clear, in every walk of life,...unless there is a healthy 'immune system' disease will run rampant. This isn't about being the entire judicial system (judge, jury, prosecutor, defense attorney, balif, and/or court reporter), it's the willingness to take a firm stand against those who would invalidate, through their actions, the honor of God and to carry out the role of an officer/shoftim if needed.

Now, before that long list of offending people run through your mind, take a good look in the mirror :-)

Shalom!