How the Promised Land is just like anywhere else

 

for Parshat Shoftim 

 

i

Moses says:

Let a judge not take bribes: for a bribe blinds justice.

Let a king not grow arrogant over his brothers.

Put down the false prophet.

Let the weak-hearted soldier go home

and not dishearten his comrades.

If you find a murdered corpse between cities

and cannot find the murderer,

let the city elders

from the closest city

hold a ceremony, to say:

we did not shed this blood.

And you shall take away bloodshed,

by doing what is right in God’s eyes.

 

ii

These are Laws

for a time of judges,

kings,

prophets,

wars,

elders:

an established life

in the Land of God’s promise,

the Land with the eyes of God upon it. 

*

These are Laws of bribe-taking judges

and arrogant kings

and false prophets

and cowardly soldiers

and city elders stumped by murder

near their own cities.

*

That is the Promised Land.

It is like everywhere else.

 

iii

But here is the Promise:

a life with the eyes of God upon it;

and you doing what is right in God’s eyes,

under God’s eyes. 

The Promise  

is the Promise

of an ordinary life

with God.

 

 

___

Shabbat Shalom,

Abe

For more Torah thoughts, consider my thoughts on the Tower of Babel. I'd be delighted to add you to the list.