November 28: JUDGES

Deuteronomy 16:18 – Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.

The judge’s role was to judge the people, conveniently enough. That means holding them accountable to the laws God gave them.

For example, if there were a dispute between two Israelites about compensation after an accident, say, then the judge’s role was to decide what should be done. A bit like when two people come before Judge Judy with a dispute about who the dog really belongs to or something like that. When it comes to the judges of Israel, the cases are real, the decisions are final.

But it’s important to see that God didn’t set these judges above the law. They are held to certain standards too. God says to the judges in Deuteronomy 16:19, “You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe…” 

God’s not interested in corrupt judges who play favorites. He doesn’t want judges who will do favors for rich people who can afford them. He wants honest judges who will find the truth and decide issues fairly.

Why? Because God is deeply concerned for what is right! That’s why he’s instituting these judges. Deuteronomy 16:20 tells us, “Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

God is just! He always does what is right. He exposes every evil, punishes every sin, rights every wrong. And so, he calls his people to make their nation a place of justice too. That’s why he institutes the judges.

Jesus himself occupies the role of judge at the end of days, with our declared innocence directly tied to his death on the old rugged cross.

Judge Deborah Raised Up



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