Deuteronomy 18:13

Part of the Torah reading for this week, in my Hebrew study, is Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:19, and is titled Shoftim (שופטים) or Judges. This is because the first part of the study talks about the setting up of the Judicial system for the people when they took over the Land of Israel. This court system consisted of a minimum of three Judges in the smaller towns that heard cases, if these judges could not come to a satisfactory conclusion; they took the case to a larger town with more judges. If these judges could not come to an agreeable answer, it was taken up to the K'nesset HaGedolah with the High Priest, who gave the final answer. Does this sound familiar? Ought to, this is what our present day Judicial system is based on, despite the so-called separation of Church and State.

But all of that is for some other time or post. The area that I want to focus on is in the 18^th chapter. This chapter begins with a discourse on the priesthood, their portion of the sacrifice and that they had no portion of the land or the residual or royalty from the flocks or produce of the land. Their only inheritance was Adonai (
יהוה הוא נחלתו כאשר דבר־לו׃ – Adonai hu nachaltov ka'asher diber-lov):

the Lord is their inheritance as He has promised them (Deut 18:2b)

This puts the onus of the support of the priesthood onto the people Israel, and they were enjoined to not forget the priests (Deut. 12:19). This portion of the text goes on to remind the people what they are to give to the Levitical priests as their portion of the sacrifices.

Then Moses moves on to warning the people about the practices of the people now inhabiting their land. They were practicing every kind of abominable art that the Lord detested (Deut. 18:9-12). The next verse (13) is the one that caught my attention; in many translations it is set apart from the other text.

You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. (Deut 18:13 NAS)

When looking at the verse in Hebrew, the first word is Tamim (תמים), this is the word that is translated as blameless, or perfect. As might be expected, there is more to this word that this quick translation. Tamim also implies finished, complete, or without defect, as in our 'walk' (halach - הלך) with God. Now, note that the Hebrew word does not imply ideal moral strictness as much as it suggests being thoroughly made, or brought to successful completion. Some have translated tamim as 'wholehearted', which gives a newer twist to the verse that I feel now talks to us in this time.

The Hebrew word that is translated before (im - עם) in the above verse, can also be translated as with. This gives us a stronger translation of the verse:

You shall be wholehearted with the Lord your God. (Deut 18:13)(emphasis my own)

Too often we find ourselves 'double-minded', essentially wanting two things at once. We desire peace with God, but we also insist upon our 'rights'. Or we try to do the right thing for the wrong reason: hope of reward, pride, or even patriotism. Such double-mindedness can cause a divided focus, an unclear condition of the sprit that results in a half-hearted conviction and dissipation of the will. If we turn this around, single mindedness concentrates the will and produces wholeheartedness, conviction and genuine character.

People live in despair because they are often double-minded. They are often trying to look at two different things at once. They seek their end in a world of finite things – good fortune, personal honor, worldly entertainment, etc.. At the same time they try to look to God for direction. Such a cross-eyed approach leads to disorientation and spiritual destruction. A divided house cannot stand.

Chaverim, those who are 'upright' (Tzadek – צדיק), or righteous, do not look away from the faithfulness and love of God. Despite the distractions of daily life and difficulties they endure; they retain their commitment and their earthly decisions reflect their faith; they have an undivided heart (Psalm 86:11-12). All this turns on the decisions to genuinely trust in God. As Yeshua said, 'If your eye is single, your whole body shall be full of light" (Matt. 6:22)

 

Baruch HaShem