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Category: Deuteronomy

January 21, 2022
Deuteronomy, Study Subjects

JUSTICE JUDGES AND PRIESTS Justice, Judges, and Priests Study Scripture: Deuteronomy 16: 18 – 20, 17: 8 – 13 Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 16, 17 Lesson 7 January 22, 2022 Key Verse Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Genesis 16:18 INTRODUCTION Have you ever had difficulty remembering the Word of God and responding to it? Do you think that your youth is a stumbling block to you to obey God? Do you think that it is very important to understand the principles behind the ordinances of God given the fact that you like to go back to the things of the past that have held you in a trap? This Study Scripture brings us face-to-face with the need for God to show us the principles that must guide our actions no matter where we are in our different stages in our history. We therefore can see what God requires of judges and priests and the people in the communities and nations when justice is to be applied. The fact is that God requires that there be able men who are required to judge simple or difficult disputes which occur in human societies. In this application of the law of God which arises from the covenant relationship that God has with His people there are certain qualifications for these people for they are required to present themselves to God as one approved, people who correctly handle the Word of Truth. This is bluntly told us in 2 Timothy 2:15. Unfortunately we usually treat casually the requirements for leaders, servants and rulers in the modern church. We like Israel tend to ignore the requirement of God to • Never distort justice or literally the “turning” of judgment, siding with the many or failing the poor, the sojourner, fatherless and widow. • Insist that people in authority render just decisions for the people • Insist those in authority do always what is right • Insist those in authority never show partiality or literally “recognizing faces” • Insist those in authority never accept a bribe for bribes will blind even the wise. One writer comments on the importance of this Study Scripture for us in the modern church as follows: “In his Book entitled Jesus the Pastor, John Frye observed that today’s church is often tempted to look to models other than Jesus to guide the leaders. “I am not saying that Jesus has been totally neglected in prayer, he has been relegated to other dimensions of Christian and local church experience”, he explains. Jesus is shoved into the shadows as we read cultural surveys, attend our leadership seminars, and applaud or criticize one another’s endeavors”. It is therefore most important that we pay attention to the principles underlying justice in our Study Texts on justice for without it we will be left in the cold. The epic saga of Israel continued after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt by the awesome hand of God. Their liberation was witness to His power and marked them as the recipients of His redemptive love. God led them through the Red Sea not only to escape, but also for them to witness the destruction of their enemies who were knee-deep in paganism and who did not believe in justice for their people. At Mount Sinai, God made a covenant with the people, one that came with immense blessings for obedience, but also a curse for disobedience. While the people enthusiastically accepted the terms of the Covenant and eagerly looked forward to the Promised Land, their story is very similar to our own, in that it is a story of struggle, the flesh warring against the spirit. In actuality, the battle was not so much to do with our external enemies as it was to do with self. Despite the formidable demonstration of God’s power at Mount Sinai, they were still in captivity in a sense, as they carried in their hearts the gods of Egypt. This could not continue, for God is a jealous God. And the first commandment they received was to forsake all other gods, giving total allegiance to their God Savior who was desirous and worthy of their worship. Due to disobedience however, the relatively short trip to the Promised Land, became a forty-year saga, a sordid story of a people falling in and out of favor with God. Because of their gross sin only people 20 years and over were allowed to enter the Promised Land. Moses therefore had to instruct and remind these young people of the importance of the commandments of God and of the proper worship of God. In so doing he recalled their history and reminded them of the terms of the Covenant with God. We therefore are looking in the book of Deuteronomy at a sermon and instruction of sorts to young people who had to be warned about pagan influence as he set up the civil structures that would manage the society and keep them away from corruption. Our Study will show that the qualifications of those that would render decisions for the people and their method of their appointment was not stressed here. The stress was on the key principles that these people selected would embody. At the same time our Study passage also contains principles which emphasize the community’s share in Justice. It was the people of Israel and not the judges and officials only that should be concerned with Justice. The people were responsible. We also are responsible today when we select leaders. We cannot simply point to them and giving our Covenant with God exclude our self from our responsibility before God. But there is a context to this legislation on civil and religious administration in Israel as Moses identifies in these Chapters judges and officials, the king, priests, and prophets. He makes no bones about pointing out to them the need for righteousness and justice stated in Deuteronomy 5:16 and repeated afterwards “that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving to you”. We know from Exodus 18 and Deuteronomy 1 that Moses has been advised by his father-in-law Jethro to appoint leaders and commanders which will judge the people alongside him and lighten his burden. The same words for these leaders are used in Deuteronomy 16: 80. We know from the Scriptures that in patriarchal times matters of justice and problem-solving were handled within the family structure with the man most often as the head of the family. There were elders as the head of families and tribes and this practice seemed to have continued during the time that Israel lived in slavery in Egypt. Moses had to present himself to them when he came to take Israel out of Egypt and they would question why he came to them. The judicial system in the wilderness seem to have been continued throughout into the Promised Land and today we will look at this practice where different people would work as Judges and Priests together in judgment. Note carefully therefore that the background to all of this was a Covenant and a God who rejected any practices of paganism. As a matter of fact, it was stated that God was the ultimate judge and guide for the people and that those appointed were simply to act under His jurisdiction and reflect His nature. Any deviation from this would bring dire consequences. Now that the young leaders in the nation and its young Judges, Priests and officials were faced with a complicated system of ruling and management Moses set up a system of trial courts and courts of appeal that are quite similar to the modern courts of law. But in this specific Study we will little or no attempt to regulate details of the job description of these officials that should ensure justice. Moses stresses the principles that these people were to embody and what was expected from the people of Israel in choosing and supporting them. Moses emphasizes the moral requirements for the task rather than the technical details of the task. We therefore should understand the underpinnings of morality whatever we do. If there is no morality there would be nothing but disaster for God will not respect those of us that do not follow the rules which flow from His nature. So let us avoid disaster I do not think that simply saying that Lord, Lord will get us into the kingdom of God. Let us remember that the Scriptures were written for our instruction, to us on whom the ends of the ages have come. THE TEXT Deuteronomy 16 Verse 18. The command is in the singular and so we know that Moses is addressing the people of the nation. They are to be intertwined with the representatives chosen. They are to appoint Judges and Officers in all their cities. These people are to be appointed by “you” clearly Israel as a whole, addressed in its corporate persona. It is the task of the community and so we would expect that the Judges and Officials would be selected from among the local elders with the people giving popular consent accepting that their reputation was for fairness. Of course, the priests would be sons of Aaron for that system had been established independently by God and accepted of course by Moses who did the installation. When we understand therefore that the people of Israel were to be involved in the appointment of these officers, we see that the people were to know they were able and fitting people before they appointed them. The people had a responsibility to look on the conduct of their judges and officials and make them know the principles that they were to follow. T This is remarkably similar to the instruction given by the Apostles in the selection of deacons and elders and other ranking officials in the church. The community therefore actively must be involved in maintaining and pursuing justice. As one writer states: “Ensuring that justice prevails was not a task of a select few; it was the task of the community”. The instruction about the “gates” meant that the people of Israel were to appoint Judges and officials everywhere not only in certain parts of the country or in major cities. We know from elsewhere in Scripture that it was at the city gates that trials were held and reports made about what was going on in the community. But this instruction or phrasing meant that these officials were to be appointed and undertake tasks everywhere throughout the land. Note also that the word “judges” does not really refer to someone in the modern concept of a Judge which presides in a court of law. Judges 16: 31 seems to tell us that it has the wider meaning for those persons are to function as rulers or governing individuals exercising the authority of God and therefore exhibiting the conduct of God in all their judgments. The basic meaning of the word “judges” seems therefore to be ones to make decisions as a community leader in disputes between community members. In the early history of Israel in the Land this sometimes involved military leadership. The tasks were assigned to people in all the tribes. No tribe could claim that they were separate from these rules. The word used for judges seems to refer also to officers with root meaning “to write” which might indicate that these people were scribes. But it is not clear that this was their only function for the words are sometimes used interchangeably between officials and judges. Sometimes officials were to assist the judge by functioning as a secretary but we know that these were not low ranking officials or policemen but held a pretty high office with the task of administering justice. In some parts of Deuteronomy like chapter 20 and 29 and 31 these officials are mentioned without any specific reference to judges. These were to work together to maintain order and justice. Note that we must not think of them in a kind of professional sense except that we should recognize some of them would be involved in more difficult cases. Righteousness should be the basis of carrying out their function. It was God who gives and it was God who could take away so the emphasis clearly is the fact that God has given them their ‘gates” wherever they were. The people were therefore to be judged with just or righteous judgment. They were always to do what was right. Verse 19. Remember now therefore that these people are to obey and serve God wholeheartedly. Here Moses now spells out what judges and officials were not to do. They were not to distort or pervert justice. This meant that they were not to literally be “turning aside anyone’s right”. Exodus 23 stresses that justice is perverted when judges side with many and failed to protect the poor, the fatherless and the widow. So also does Deuteronomy 24 and 27. The word basically means “to stretch out”, “extend”, and so this pictures what is being extended or stretched out so that it becomes unjust. The next negative is that judges and officials were not to “recognize faces”, that is to show partiality. Justice is to be blind. Judges were not to treat someone in any special way because of their appearance or on the basis of what, or who he or she is. There must be no bias, prejudice or favoritism to anyone including sons, high officials, or sports superstars. There must be one standard for everybody. Proverbs 24: 23 and 28: 21 reminds us that partiality is prohibited throughout the Bible using different phrases. Torah teaches us that Israel was not to be partial even to the poor man in his lawsuit, or give favour to the great and the rich. Proverbs 18 warns us not to be partial to the wicked and Psalm 82:2 laments that the judges of Israel judged unjustly and showed partiality to the wicked Then the other strong negative is with respect to accepting a bribe. Judges and officials were told not to take a present or gift for those that give presents and gifts would be expecting something in return maybe not immediately but one day. The wealthy and powerful would use bribes to manipulate the judiciary and make sure that the poor and the vulnerable who needed fair judgment would suffer. The Bible says that that practice was wicked. See Proverbs 17:23 Ecclesiastes 7:7 and Psalms 15:5. This problem of obtaining bribes and gifts was regarded as so serious that Deuteronomy 10: 17-18 specifically tells us that God is not partial and takes no bribes but executes justice for the fatherless and the widow. So it makes no sense for you to be giving tithes and offerings to God so that you can bribe Him to accept that whatever you’re doing wrong is acceptable to Him. This is such a serious matter that the practice of bribery will make even the wise and the righteous go astray. It is therefore absolutely forbidden. Our Study Text does not include the prohibition against charging interest or usury but that is dealt with in other parts of Deuteronomy. Following any of these three negative practices means that a person would never be able to judge fairly in everything for in the administration of justice there would be distortion, corruption, prejudice, favoritism, partiality, dishonesty, or undue influence. These practices do not reflect the characted of God and so is absolutely condemned. Many people in churches and in the society have been victims of those that violate the specific commandments of God given by Moses. We should understand that we have the responsibility to make sure that that does not occur, and if it occurs we should not sit idly by for in doing so we would be complicit in sin. Verse 20. The specific advice to Israel and the instruction to us is as one writer states: “Justice, justice, you shall pursue”. The repetition of the word is its own stress. It signifies justice or righteousness. This was to be followed after as if in hot pursuit, as if panting, as the verb indicates. It is the call Amos made to Israel, though they would not heed- “But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream”. Amos 5:24. When water runs down in the world, it pursues its path. Any obstacle to it is circumvented and the water continues on. This is what Moses is calling for now”. It is critically important that we note that Moses warns that there are consequences if the people and judges do not follow the ways of God. There is special responsibility on those that are known for their intellectual and practical wisdom for they are not to turn aside from fair judgment. God links life, well-being and good quality of life with the inheritance of the Promised Land and this is all linked to the pursuit of justice. For a good life in the Land which the Lord their God had given them all the people as well as the judges and officials, had to pursue justice. We must hasten to add that same advice applies to us. The book of Revelation warns us: “Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie”. Deuteronomy 8 Verse 8. Moses was well aware that the people would sometimes have difficulties in making decisions at the local level in order to be fair to everyone. There would be family and sundry tribal and custom and practice issues. Sometimes the rule for evidence to be accepted only if there are two or three witnesses would run into roadblocks. Sometimes it would be difficult to determine the degrees of guilt for bloodshed for sometimes both parties in an issue would bear some guilt. There will always be matters of controversy between people. We see this ourselves if we pay attention to what is happening in the modern courts of law. We sometimes refer to these kind of thorny issues as requiring the wisdom of Solomon. In such a case especially where for example the decision has to be made between manslaughter or murder, the matter had to be taken to a higher court rather than a decision being made by local judges. The people were to go to the place where the Lord God had chosen and that of course refers to the Sanctuary or later the Temple. Verse 9. It was instructed that the people should go to the place that the Lord God had appointed and that would be the Sanctuary or the Temple. There the priests and Levites would constitute a Higher Court along with some of the senior elders for they would be wiser judges because of their knowledge of the word of God. It seemed that the Levitical priests and the Judge would handle the cases together and in 2 Chronicles 19: 5-11 we see King Jehoshaphat setting up a court similar to that referred to in this chapter composed of Levites, priests and laymen with the High Priest as head of the Court in religious matters while a layman would act as Chief Judge in secular matters, otherwise called the King’s matters. That Court would have the authority to pronounce judgment and render a sentence of judgment. Verse 10. There was no appeal against the authority of the Court. There should be respect for any decision that was rendered and any disagreement or rejection of the court’s decision would be regarded as contempt of court and a capital crime. People should therefore be very careful for once they went to the Higher Court they had to do everything that was ordered to them, Verse 11. Whatever was instructed should be obeyed and they should do according to the judgment rendered. They should not turn to the right or to the left from the sentence that was pronounced. Verse 12. Anyone who acted in such a way to reject the decision of the Court was being presumptuous. They should be regarded as people who did not heed the Priest who was ministering before the Lord their God. The Priest therefore would make a decision based on what the Lord their God said. The secular Judge was acting in the place of God and so anyone who disregarded the decision should die. Their death would put away evil from Israel. Verse 13. This will have a strong effect on the nation for all those who heard of the decision and the rejection of the decision would fear and would no longer act presumptuously. Nobody would be allowed to turn away from the instruction of the priests. Note carefully therefore that the Priests and Judges were not making decisions based on exploiting legal technicalities to justify their questionable practices. They were not only acting as good lawyers but they were also acting as good theologians. They would recognize that the decisions made in the secular courts were really theological issues and not only legal and technical ones. All decisions were based on the laws and commandments of God and we know that the Priests and the Judges had to go to God for direction on occasion. CONCLUSION Justice is the word that sums up these case laws. They stress our need to speak truth. Moral authority with respect to bearing false witness and how to treat our neighbor comes from the 10 Commandments. The believer the prophet Micah tells us, is to love mercy, do justice, and to walk humbly with God. These laws tell us what practical justice looks like. So we need three things. First, we need a righteous law which we must follow. Second, we need a righteous laity or citizenry willing to accept their responsibility before God. And third, we need righteous leadership. No society will exist and bring a good quality of life apart from having a just legal standard, manifesting itself in just laws. Laws that are just cannot be arbitrary and must be the same for everyone in the society. Note that this justice of God reflects the unchanging character of God and therefore God’s laws are reliable. God’s laws are to be reflected in our relationship with one another. So therefore note that biblical justice is predictable and that is why God wanted His laws to be read to every resident of Israel during the year of release or every seven years according to Deuteronomy 31: 9-13. In addition the king had to personally copy the Laws and keep the copy for his personal reference. It is very interesting to note that the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 1-2 that everyone on earth knows the rules. The rules have been written on our hearts so if we want justice all we have to do is to see what the Judge, the lawgiver has written. God has so structured the world that apart from the law of God there can be no justice anywhere in the society. When we look at history we see that millions of people have been unjustly killed and abused by anti-Christian governments, communist governments, dictatorial governments, as well as governments that claim to be Christians. God commands all to do justly and to speak the truth. None of the systems that have ever existed can say that they have an excuse. The Book of Daniel tells us that God looks at the nations as wild beasts while men look at nations as represented in the image of gold, silver and precious metals as things of value. That is why God will set up a kingdom that will sweep away all kingdoms and why His kingdom will remain forever. God needs righteous citizenry. God condemns untruthful witnesses. God condemns those that follow the crowd and those that follow peer pressure. The prophet Amos and others stressed all of these things and we stand condemned when we follow the mischievous and unreliable witnesses and the peer pressure brought on us by the wicked. We saw some of these instructions as to how we should behave in our previous Lesson. So do not doubt that God has given these commands. We cannot ignore the call of God for righteous leadership and righteous judges and righteous people and we cannot go along with corruption, and supporting people that turn evidence around, perverting evidence and rendering a dishonest judgment. We can see judges accepting bribes and say nothing. We can see people perverting justice and say nothing. This our choice and it will have sad consequences. It is amazing to see that the people of Israel despite all of these instructions finally say that they wanted a king like the other nations. The prophet Samuel warned them not to act wickedly for they wanted a king like the other nations. That of course would lead to disaster for them. But we should not be self-righteous and we should understand that all the laws of God ultimately point to the Lord Jesus Christ. The law of God is perfect and reveals the sinfulness and the deep sinfulness of sin and we should sweep away our sins through the blood of Jesus. God is just and He will not clear the guilty. God will not turn a blind eye for He sent his son to die for sinners and to show people what a righteous judge is. But let us remember that God is able to justify the guilty and also to remain just and God will exercise unbelievable compassion to poor sinners while He acts to uphold His laws. But Israel wanted a king like the nations. And so do we often. We want judges, rulers and kings that are in the style of the pagan nations of the world. The tragedy is that a man as wise as Solomon was a notorious breaker of the commands of God and he accumulated for himself everything that he had been told not to accumulate. But he didn’t seem to know the commands of Deuteronomy 17. Christian as well as many leaders fall because of power, pleasure, or money. God’s commands and we have to always look today to the word of God and depend on the truths of God so that we can develop proper reverence for God and live holy lives. We are to understand however that given the complications of modern life there might be difficulties in applying an ancient text to a modern context for we have developed complicated rules and regulations. We also note that we have developed sensitivity on cultural issues which in some cases seem to run counter to biblical instruction. We also believe in the separation of church and state and this of course is different the structure of ancient Israel. But the principles apply. Justice must be pursued by judges, officials and the community. The practices outlined which make those in positions seek power, money, and the ability to abuse others remain condemned. God requires citizens to remain willing to ensure justice and demand that the practices of justice be followed by the professionals and those in the judiciary. Those in these positions are accountable. They are required to serve fairly and correctly. If we choose to disregard the way of God we will suffer. We will even complain that God is not helping but in fact in many cases the problem is caused by us. There is no doubt that we face immense challenges in this area of justice denied. But we must recognize our personal responsibility in not going along with the perversion of justice, giving truthful testimony when called on to do so, and not telling lies. We must remember that we cannot skirt the law, stretching the laws of God to go around it. We must avoid prejudice and doing harm to others. We must be people of justice. God requires that loyalty and obedience to His word irrespective of the challenges that we face in living in this sinful, pagan world.

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