⚖️ Torah Portion Shoftim — Justice, Covenant, and the King Who Comes
Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9 | Isaiah 51:12–52:12 | John 20:19–29
Shalom, friends!
This week’s Torah portion, Shoftim (“Judges”), focuses on leadership, justice, and accountability in covenant life. Moses outlines the roles of judges, kings, priests, and prophets, placing all authority under God’s ultimate standard:
“Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deut. 16:20).
The Haftarah calls a fearful, weary people to wake up and remember who holds them.. God Himself, the One who comforts and redeems. And in the Besorah, Yeshua appears to His disciples, breathing peace into their fear and inviting Thomas to believe without seeing.
Shoftim reminds us: God’s people are to be led not by power or pride but by righteousness, humility, and faith. True justice flows from His Word. True kingship bows before the King of Kings.
✨ TL;DR — Shoftim
Torah (Deut. 16:18–21:9): Judges and leaders appointed, warnings for kings and prophets, pursuit of justice, laws of war, and responsibility for innocent blood.
Haftarah (Isa. 51:12–52:12): God comforts His people, calls them to rise, and promises redemption with power and purity.
Besorah (John 20:19–29): The risen Messiah brings peace, breathes the Spirit, and calls us to believe without seeing.
Hebrew Letter: Resh (ר) — head, beginning, humility, the choice between pride and submission.
📜 TORAH PORTION: Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9
🔍 Understanding the Portion
Moses commands the appointment of judges and officers in every town to ensure justice is carried out with fairness. Bribery and partiality are condemned, for justice is rooted in God’s own character. The famous line rings out: “Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may live and possess the land.”
Moses sets boundaries for kingship: the king must be an Israelite chosen by God, not multiply horses, wives, or wealth, and must write a personal copy of the Torah to read daily so that his heart remains humble. This contrasts sharply with the nations, where kings lived in excess and pride. Here, authority is tethered to accountability under God’s Word.
The role of prophets is defined: true prophets speak only what God commands, while false prophets or dreamers who lead people astray must be rejected. This underscores that leadership is not about charisma but fidelity to God’s Word.
Chapters 19–21 deal with justice in practice: laws about witnesses, sanctuary cities for accidental killers, warfare conduct, and atonement for unsolved murders. Even in battle and tragedy, Israel is called to pursue holiness and justice, preserving covenant integrity.
💡 A Little Nugget
The Hebrew phrase “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof” (Justice, justice shall you pursue) repeats “justice” for emphasis. Ancient rabbis taught this meant justice must be pursued justly… not through corruption, shortcuts, or unjust means. God cares not only about outcomes but about the way we walk.
🧠 Drash: The King with the Torah in His Hands
Moses paints a picture of leadership radically different from the nations. Kings in the ancient world boasted in their power, their armies, their wives, and their wealth. But here, God flips the script: Israel’s king is commanded not to multiply horses or wives, not to chase riches, and instead to sit with pen and parchment, copying the Torah word for word. Why? So that the king’s heart would remain humble and submitted to the true King of Israel.
This is a staggering vision of leadership. Authority in God’s kingdom is not about domination but about submission. It is not about how high you can rise, but about how low you are willing to bow before God’s Word. The measure of a leader is not charisma or conquest, but humility and obedience.
Shoftim reminds us that “justice, justice” isn’t just about verdicts in a courtroom, it’s about integrity in every layer of life. God demands that His people, especially those in authority, walk in justice not just for themselves but for the vulnerable, the weak, and the voiceless.
And is this not fulfilled in Messiah Yeshua? The true King did not come riding in with warhorses or gold, but in humility, with the Word of God inscribed on His very life. He is the King with the Torah in His hands and the law of God written on His heart. He embodies justice and mercy perfectly. Shoftim points forward to Him… the Judge, the Prophet, and the King who will never fail.
📖 HAFTARAH: Isaiah 51:12–52:12
🔍 Understanding the Portion
God speaks directly to a fearful people:
“I, I am He who comforts you. Who are you that you fear man who dies, and forget the Lord your Maker?”
He urges them to wake up, shake off the dust, and clothe themselves with strength.
Jerusalem, drunk on the cup of wrath, will now drink no more. Instead, God will put the cup into the hands of her oppressors. The watchmen are told to lift up their voices and declare the return of the Lord to Zion.
Isaiah 52:7–10 rings out:
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news… Your God reigns!”
This is the language of gospel—good news of redemption, restoration, and the reign of God.
💡 A Little Nugget
The double phrase “Awake, awake” (Isaiah 52:1) mirrors the earlier “Comfort, comfort.” Repetition here is not accidental; it signals urgency. God calls His people not just to be comforted but to rise, to live as the redeemed, to walk in their calling.
🧠 Drash: Awake to the Good News
Isaiah’s words are spoken to a weary, beaten-down people who feel crushed under the weight of exile. They have drunk the bitter cup of God’s discipline and wonder if joy will ever return. And into that despair, God shouts, “I, I am He who comforts you.” Notice the doubling… God emphasizes His personal involvement. He doesn’t outsource comfort. He Himself is the Comforter.
But comfort isn’t where the message ends, it’s where it begins. Twice God says, “Awake, awake.” In other words, don’t stay lying in the dust of defeat. Rise. Strengthen your arms. Put on your beautiful garments. Redemption isn’t just a word spoken over you… it’s a life you’re meant to live out.
And then the crescendo:
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news.”
This isn’t just poetic, it’s prophetic. The good news is not whispered in a corner; it’s shouted from the mountaintops. The feet are beautiful not because of appearance, but because of what they carry: the announcement that Your God reigns.
Shoftim calls us to justice; Isaiah calls us to awaken to the gospel. Both meet in Yeshua, the One who came proclaiming: “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”
The challenge for us is clear: are we awake, or still slumbering in defeat? Have we lifted our eyes to see the Good News, and are we carrying it with our own feet to others?
✝️ Besorah: John 20:19–29
🔍 Understanding the Portion
The disciples, locked in fear after the crucifixion, suddenly encounter the risen Messiah. Yeshua speaks, “Peace be with you,” and shows them His hands and side. Then He breathes on them, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This echoes the breath of life in Genesis, marking a new creation moment.
Thomas, absent at first, refuses to believe without seeing and touching. A week later, Yeshua appears again, inviting Thomas to put his hand in His wounds. Thomas confesses, “My Lord and my God!” Yeshua responds: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
💡 A Little Nugget
The word for “peace” (shalom) means more than calm… it means wholeness, restoration, the mending of what was broken. Yeshua doesn’t just calm nerves; He restores covenant completeness in His presence.
🧠 Drash: Blessed Without Seeing
The disciples are huddled behind locked doors, gripped by fear. But notice, locked doors don’t keep out the risen Lord. He comes in, not to rebuke, but to breathe peace. Twice He says, “Shalom.” It’s as if He is mending the brokenness piece by piece, stitching back their faith with every word.
And then He breathes on them. The same Spirit that hovered over the waters at creation, the same breath that gave life to Adam, is now breathed into fearful disciples. This is new creation. This is the beginning of the church; born not of strategy but of Spirit.
Then comes good old Thomas. He doubts, but he is honest about his doubt. And Yeshua meets him where he is… not with shame but with an invitation: “Put your finger here… do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas’ response is the highest confession of faith in the Gospels: “My Lord and my God.”
Yeshua blesses Thomas, but He also blesses us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” That’s our place in the story. We may not see Him with our eyes, but we believe His Word. Shoftim demanded justice, Isaiah demanded awakening, and here Yeshua demands faith beyond sight. This is the life of the believer: justice, awakening, and trust.
🌟 My Drash: Justice, Awakening, and Faith Beyond Sight
Shoftim is not an abstract legal code; it is a blueprint for a community that reflects God’s justice. It declares that power must bow to truth, that kings must be humbled by Torah, that prophets must speak only God’s words, and that the pursuit of justice must be pure.
Isaiah speaks into despair, saying comfort is not the end goal but the starting point. Comfort comes so that we may rise, awake, and live as redeemed people. The gospel is not a suggestion but an announcement: Your God reigns!
And then Yeshua walks through the locked doors of fear. He breathes His Spirit into trembling disciples and turns doubt into confession. He declares peace and calls us blessed when we believe without seeing.
Together, these passages preach one message: God’s kingdom is built on justice, sustained by awakening, and lived out through faith beyond sight.
The question for us is simple: will we bow our “resh”—our head—in humility before Him? Will we awaken to His mission, or stay in the dust? Will we believe without seeing and live as witnesses of the risen King?
Shoftim calls us to see clearly. Isaiah calls us to rise boldly. Yeshua calls us to believe deeply. That’s the summons of this week: pursue justice, awaken to comfort, and walk in faith.
✡️ Hebrew Letter of the Week: ר (Resh)
Sound: “R”
Numerical Value: 200
Meaning: Head, beginning, authority, choice between pride and humility
✍🏽 How to Write Resh
ר
Draw a vertical line down.
Add a curved line to the right at the top, forming a simple rounded corner.
Spiritual Meaning
Resh represents the “head” but also the choice: will the head bow in humility before God, or rise in pride? Shoftim is all about this choice. Kings and judges must not exalt themselves, but humble themselves under God’s Word. Resh reminds us that greatness begins with humility.
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