Deuteronomy 16:18-20
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. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 16:18-20 (NIV)
Growing up, whenever there was a rule that needed following my childhood pastor would tell us it was written in Deuteronomy somewhere. That was my first thought before ever reading this passage. Naturally, the passage does not disappoint, as it is indeed a rule that needs following.
That said, let’s dive deeper into the prescribed governance that God gave his people. At first blush, it seems pretty simple. Have someone in every town whose sole role is to act as a judge. I interpret this to mean they were to hear arguments, settle disputes, and pass sentences when necessary. That seems very straightforward, as cultures around the world have some method of interpreting the laws (note: it is very important to me that these judges do not enforce the laws but read them and the situations presented to them). So, what’s the hangup?
Justice. How many different interpretations have you read in stories, seen in the news, or felt yourself? Justice to one person looks a lot more like revenge to another. Whole comic book characters are founded on this dilemma. How then do we adhere to God’s command to serve only justice? Not taking bribes is simple enough, and so is not playing favorites, but how do we seek God’s justice?
Thankfully, we have the whole Bible and not just this passage to guide us in Justice. We must continually look to the Word to remind ourselves of God’s desires for the world. Desires that, through Jesus Christ, show us that mercy and love are at the heart of the matter. Too often, people proclaim justice by twisting verses out of context to serve their own end, which is precisely the partiality that God calls us to denounce in this passage. So, be slow to judge yourself and others. We are all human, and our judgements are inherently flawed. Maybe that’s the thought to remember most.
Questions for Reflection:
- When have you last felt the need to be the judge?
- What does “partiality” mean to you? How might you dive deeper into it?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we know that you call us to govern ourselves in Your Name, but too often we succumb to our own ends. Help us to remember that Justice comes from following and trusting in You. Amen.
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