SHOFTIM (שֹׁפְטִים) — Judges, Justice, and the King who is with us.

Shabbat Shalom and God bless! 🕊️🔥

This week’s Torah portion (Parashah) is Shoftim (שֹׁפְטִים), meaning “Judges” or “Those Who Govern.”

The name comes from Deuteronomy 16:18: “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your gates…”

The Hebrew word shoftim is associated with judging, governing, and administering justice.

As Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land, Moses begins describing what a righteous society should look like.

Israel enters the land they must maintain need righteous leadership.

They will need judges who judge fairly.

Priests who teach faithfully.

Kings who remain humble under God’s authority.

Prophets who speak God’s Word.

And a people who refuse to compromise with wickedness.

In light of this, as we move through these passages, we will see that:

While Israel needs righteous rulers, they ultimately must trust in the Lord their true the righteous King.

While Israel needs prophets, they ultimately need to hear and recognize the One who perfectly reveals the God of Israel.

And that brings us from Deuteronomy, through today’s other readings in Isaiah’s promise of redemption, and into Yeshua’s declaration in the book of John; “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

Today we’ll be reading:

TORAH: Deuteronomy 17–21.

PROPHETS: Isaiah 51–52.

GOSPELS: John 14:9–20.

These three readings show us a God who calls His people to obedience, reminds them of His faithfulness, and reveals Himself through Yeshua. From the Torah’s call to righteous living, to Isaiah’s promise of redemption, to Yeshua revealing the Father and promising the Ruach HaKodesh, we see one message: Trust God, walk in His ways, and follow Yeshua (Jesus).