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Shoftim

Judges
“Words Required for Life”

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Isaiah 51:12-52:12
(or finish at 53:12)

excerpted from TorahScope, Volume I

Shoftim continues to establish the constitution for the emerging nation of Israel. Moses addressed issues like the judicial system[1] and the inevitability of Israel having a monarchy,[2] and how all were to be subject to God’s Law and authority. Specifics about the Levitical priesthood are also described,[3] and warnings were issued to Israel about some of the abominable practices which would be tempting the people as the conquest of the Promised Land proceeded.[4] Specifics about the cities of refuge are reiterated,[5] and further definitions about court proceedings are discussed.[6] Preparations for war with the requirements of the selective service or draft are outlined, with the rules of engagement for war included.[7] Finally, some specifics about how to handle homicide are detailed.[8] As you read and reflect upon Shoftim, you can easily see how the God of Israel is indeed a Master of order. He has laid out important aspects of the judicial, executive, and priestly functions which were to make His chosen nation be prosperous.

However, in the midst, of all of this instruction for the people of Israel, is a strikingly significant Messianic prophecy. Moses spoke of a Greater Prophet who would one day rise up with the words of God in His mouth. This Greater Prophet would speak all the words which God commanded Him to speak. Not listening or heeding the words this Prophet would speak will incur a man or woman some severe consequences:

“I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19, WMB).

This expectation has a degree of finality to it. Moses declared that this future Prophet would speak words which must be obeyed by those who heard them. If they are not obeyed, then God Himself “will call…to account” (NIV) those who ignored or disregarded them, holding those responsible who did not take seriously the words conveyed. Deuteronomy 19:18-10 is a powerful prophetic statement made by Moses, which pointed ahead to the eventual arrival of the Messiah. And yet, when the Messiah did come, how many chose to really believe His words?

One group of people who fully believed and acted on the words of the Greater Prophet, were the Disciples of Yeshua the Messiah. Ten days after the ascension of the Messiah into Heaven, on the day of Shavuot/Pentecost, the Ruach HaKodesh or Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Believers. As it is recorded in Acts 3, the Apostle Peter confidently declared that Yeshua was indeed the Greater Prophet who Moses had foretold:

“But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Messiah should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Messiah Yeshua, who was ordained for you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets. For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him [Deuteronomy 18:19] in all things whatever he says to you. It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, also told of these days. You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring [Genesis 22:18; 26:4].’ God, having raised up his servant Yeshua, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness” (Acts 3:18-26, WMB).

Peter directly quoted Deuteronomy 18:19, which details who the Greater Prophet was to be, and identified Him to be Yeshua the Messiah. But there is further amplification as to what the concept of “requiring” one to recognize Him actually meant. Peter made it much more succinct and to the point. He stated that: “Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people” (NIV). This statement is really to be taken seriously, because those who disregard Yeshua will have severe consequences leveled against them. The early Messiah followers understood how Moses had indeed foretold of Yeshua—because before he was stoned, the young disciple Stephen likewise directly quoted from Deuteronomy 18:15, defending himself with the word,

“This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me’” (Acts 7:37, WMB).

Based on the prophecy delivered by Moses, and the confirmation offered by Peter and Stephen—we must believe in and heed the message declared by the Greater Prophet, Yeshua the Messiah—or the consequence will be eternal punishment. This might seem like a harsh word, but the author of Hebrews’ words are even more direct than those witnessed in either Deuteronomy 18:19 or Acts 3:23:

“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries [Isaiah 26:11]. A man who disregards the Torah of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay,’ says the Lord. Again, ‘The Lord will judge his people [Deuteronomy 32:35, 36; Psalm 135:14].’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:26-31, WMB).

Reading this rather direct and stern admonition—born again Believers should recognize how they have the authority to not only rebuke those who have heard the knowledge of the truth and keep on sinning, but also those who completely turn away from the truth that the Messiah is Yeshua, the only Savior for humanity.

Brothers and sisters, you do not want to find yourself a sinner who fails to turn from bad habits, one who has known but has rejected the good news, or one who has just rejected the good news. While all of these negative predicaments are terrible—those who once professed to believe in, but later deny, the blood atonement of Yeshua on their behalf—are going to be punished even more seriously than those who just reject Him outright.

Have you truly believed in the words of the Messiah? Has the good news of salvation in Yeshua changed your heart, and truly enabled you to love God and neighbor like never before? If you have not experienced the supernatural power of the gospel—now is the time to go before the Lord in prayerful repentance! One must believe in the words of Yeshua to experience eternal life; it is not enough to only have the words of Moses.