This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9). Read on Shabbat, August 30, 2025 / 6 Elul 5785. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.
“Appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality; and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous” (Deuteronomy 16:18-19).
Moses lays before Israel the foundational call for justice. Leadership, in God’s eyes, begins with integrity. Judges and officials are entrusted not to wield power for themselves, but to uphold righteousness without favoritism or corruption.
The portion continues with laws for kings, priests, prophets, cities of refuge, false witnesses, and warfare. Each is given to ensure accountability, to protect the vulnerable, and to remind Israel that no one stands above the law of God.
Justice is not a distant ideal; it is meant to be lived daily, in every town, family, and community. When rulers cling too tightly to power, or when compassion is sidelined for expedience, the entire nation and society suffers.
Shoftim reminds us that justice is not only the duty of leaders. It is a call upon every heart. How we treat coworkers, how we speak of neighbors, and how we handle resources all reveal whether we reflect the justice of God.
To act justly requires humility, vigilance, and courage. It means noticing the quiet needs around us, protecting those who cannot protect themselves, and speaking truth even when silence would be easier.
In our own lives, injustice can sometimes feel too large to confront, whether in society or within our own hearts. Yet Shoftim calls us to see that justice begins in the small choices.
Ask yourself: where can I uphold justice today? Perhaps in refusing to cut corners, in offering a fair word instead of gossip, or in welcoming someone who is often overlooked. These moments may seem small, but they are seeds of blessing, for each act of integrity reflects the heart of God.
If you are weary of injustice, do not lose hope. God calls His people to embody a different way. Even one choice to act with fairness and compassion can bear witness to His kingdom.
And if you are in a season of blessing, remember that gratitude must be joined with responsibility. To receive much is also to be entrusted with much, and justice is one of the surest ways we honor that trust.
This week, seek one intentional way to bring fairness into your space—at home, at work, or in your community.
Let your words and actions align with the vision God set before Israel: a people known not for power or wealth, but for righteousness, mercy, and truth.
PRAYER
Lord, please open my eyes to see injustice. Give me wisdom to act with fairness, courage to speak with integrity, and humility to walk in Your ways. Amen.
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