This weeks parsha is Shoftim (Judges), and there are many interesting subjects one can speak about from this Parsha. However, in keeping with the theme that HaShem has been speaking to us over the last few months I want to continue within the context of our "entering into our inheritance," and the crossing over into our new lives.
We spoke a few weeks ago about crossing over, and that when you enter the land, you have to live life, and in living life, there is the putting our hands to the plow. In essence to work, and to deal with the trials of everyday life. One of the other issues that we deal with in our lives, in the same way that the Hebrews did within the context of our Parsha, is going to battle. The idea of going to battle is prominently discusded in Parsha Shoftim.
(Deu 20:1) "When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots {and} people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the L-rd your G-d, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.
(Deu 20:2) "When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people.
(Deu 20:3) "He shall say to them, 'Hear, o Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them,
(Deu 20:4) for the L-rd your G-d is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'
(Deu 20:5) "The officers also shall speak to the people, saying, 'who is the man that has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would dedicate it.
(Deu 20:6) 'Who is the man that has planted a vineyard and has not begun to use its fruit? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would begin to use its fruit.
(Deu 20:7) 'and who is the man that is engaged to a woman and has not married her? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would marry her.'
(Deu 20:8) "Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, 'who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers' hearts melt like his heart.'
When the children of Israel would enter into the promised land, innumerable battles would lie before them. These battles were inevitable, since godless nations had entrenched themselves in the land:
"It is because of the wickedness of these nations that the L-rd your G-d drives them out from before you" (Deuteronomy 9:5).
The history of Israel documents one battle after another, and now Moshe announces the truth that the people of the L-rd need to hear as the battle draws near.
"Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies; Do not let your heart faint, Do not be afraid, And do not tremble or be terrified because of them."
So often, when the time of warfare comes, the foe seems invincible:
"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you"
The natural temptation is to "faint.....be aftraid......tremble...., or be terrified." Another temptation is to try to match the enemy horse for horse and chariot for chariot. The scriptures warn against putting our trust worldly resources.
"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the holy one of israel" (Isaiah 31:1).
The same is true for us: When we must go into the battles of life, the L-rd accompanies us.
"For the L-rd your G-d is he who goes with you."
He is with us not only to comfort us, but also to battle on our behalf:
"to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."
The L-rd can fight for his people in an unlimited variety of ways.
He can change the hearts of those who oppose us.
He can bring their plans to naught.
He can trap them in their own evil plans.
He can cause our enemies to turn and devour one another.
He can effectively save us in any manner that he chooses.
However, most times he expects us to participate in the battle.
When the IDF soldiers were prepared for battle, just as they were ready to enter into Gaza a Rabbi stood before them and boldy spoke the same verses we are looking at today
(Deu 20:3) "He shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them,
(Deu 20:4) for the L-rd your G-d is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'
While a Rabbi is speaking before the IDF, who is speaking in the verses above? In the Hebrew we read below:
וְהָיָה, כְּקָרָבְכֶם אֶל-הַמִּלְחָמָה; וְנִגַּשׁ הַכֹּהֵן, וְדִבֶּר אֶל-הָעָם
Verse 2: and it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
When Israel would go to battle there was a Kohen (called the Mashuach milchamah, "anointed for battle"), who was appointed the task of preparing the people for war. "Hear, O Israel," he announces to the people, "today you are approaching the battle against your enemies.
Let your hearts not be faint; you shall not be afraid, and you shall not be alarmed, and you shall not be terrified because of them. For the L-rd your G-d is the one who goes with you, To fight for you against your enemies, to save you."
There is something very interesting about the idea of this priest.
It seems like this priest is one who does not serve in the tabernacle or temple, but is one who specifically prepares the men of Israel for war. He prepares them physcially and spiritually, and then even sends home those who have other priorities, or seem to be unfit.
We have an example of this priest anointed for war, and his name was Pinchas. We spoke of him some time back, in the portion which bears his name. He was given prieshood even though he would not have normally attained it within the Levitial line, however because of his zeal for HaShem, he achieved this position
In Bamidbar 31 (Numbers), we read of Pinchas being sent out as the "Mashuach Milchamah" (Anointed for Battle).
Num 31:6 Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, to the war, and Pinchas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war with them, and the holy vessels and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand. He sent to war to take vengeance on the Midianites who had led the men of Israel to idolatry.
In Midrash Rabbah - Leviticus XX:2 - Eisheba the daughter of Amminadab did not enjoy happiness in the world. True, she witnessed five crowns [attained by her relatives] in one day: her brother-in-law was a king, her brother was a prince, her husband was high priest, her two sons were both deputy high priests, Pinchas her grandson was a priest anointed for war.
Well, you might say "very interesting," but what does this have to do with us? Well, "i am glad you asked.
Elsewhere in Midrash Rabbah we find reference to the priest anointed for battle, however, this time he is called, "the war Messiah."
Midrash rabbah - the Song of Songs II:33 - My beloved spoke and said unto me. He spoke through Elijah and said through the Messiah. What did he say to me? Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
R. Azariah said: for lo, the winter (Ha-Sethaw) is past: This refers to the kingdom of the Cutheans which seduces (mesithah) the world and leads it astray by its falsehoods, as we read, if thy brother, the son of thy mother, entice thee--yesitheka (Deut. Xiii, 7).
MY NOTE: Cutheans were a people brought to Samaria after the Assyrian's exiled the ten tribes to assyria. They supposedly converted out of fear of lions that attached them according to 2 Kings, but still worshiped their idols. So, that is their falsehood
The rain is over and gone: this refers to the subjection of Israel. The flowers appear on the earth: the conquerors have appeared on the earth. Who are they?
R. Berekiah said in the name of R. Isaac: As it is written, and the L-rd showed me four craftsmen (zech. Ii, 3), Namely, Elijah, the Messiah, Melchizedek, and the war Messiah.*The time of the zamir (song bird) is come: The time has come for Israel to be delivered; The time has come for uncircumcision to be cut off; The time has come for the kingdom of the Cutheans to expire; The time has come for the kingdom of heaven to be revealed, As it says, and the L-rd shall be King over all the earth (ib. Xiv, 9). And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: who is this? This is the voice of the Messiah.
What we read in that Midrash is the linking of the priest anointed for war, the war Messiah, and with the coming Messiah. How interesting is it that this sound an awful lot like the High priest who came to be the final Yom Kippur sacrifice for sin. The grouping of Elijah, the Messiah, Melchizedek, and the war Messiah together (in the above section), reminds us that Eelijah was to be the forerunner of Messiah. We read in scripture that "Yochanan the Immerser" (John the Baptist), is in fact come as Elijah to announce the coming of Messiah.
This Messiah, this High Priest came the first time to be a final sacrifice, but when he returns, He will be the "Priest Anointed for battle." He will be the "War Messiah"
In isaiah 59
(Isa 59:16) And he saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no one to intercede; then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness upheld him.
(Isa 59:17) He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped himself with zeal as a mantle. (Like Pinchas, the first "anointed for battle")
(Isa 59:18) According to {their} deeds, so he will repay, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the coastlands he will make recompense.
(Isa 59:19) So they will fear the name of the L-rd from the West and His glory from the rising of the sun, for He will come like a rushing stream which the wind of the L-rd drives.
(Isa 59:20) "A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the L-rd.
(Isa 59:21) "As for Me, this is my covenant with them," says the L-rd: "My spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the L-rd, "from now and forever."
When we read "then his own are brought salvation," this refers to this "war Messiah", and not only was he clothed with "garments of vengeance," but with "a breastplate of righteousness," and "a helmet of salvation." This "Priest and Messiah" not only is clothed himself, but clothes us as well. He clothes us with the same garment he wears.
In Ephesians 6
(Eph 6:13) Therefore, take up the full armor of god, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
(Eph 6:14) Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
(Eph 6:15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
(Eph 6:16) In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
(Eph 6:17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of G-d.
This is the Armor of Elohim, and he He tells us to stand firm when we are clothed in His armor.
In Biblical times, when going to war, "to gird our loins," was to gather up the full length tunic between your legs to avoid anything that would cause you to stumble.
The breastplate was chain mail made up of small pieces of metal that were sewn on to garments to protect from the waist to the neck.
Military sandals were made of heavy leather with hob nails, so one could get firm footing in battle.
The shield was very large, and actually protected the whole body.
Fiery darts were hollow reeds that were filled with a combustible material that could only put out by covering with earth and water only made it worse.
Helmets were made of different materials, but almost always came down either below the ear, or sometimes down to the shoulder.
Finally the sword of the Spirit which is the word of G-d is the most important part of the armor. It is the word of G-d that allows us to keep all of our armor bright and shiny and ready for battle. This is the word of G-d spoken on in the final verse of Isaiah 59 that we read earlier.
(Isa 59:21) "As for me, this is My covenant with them," says the L-rd: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the L-rd, "from now and forever."
This is our sword to vanquish the enemy. The torah which He has place in our mouths and in our hearts will allow us to stand before our enemies without fear. In the same way that a young boy who would one day become a king stood before his people who were faint of heart and declared, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should taunt the armies of the living G-d."
Then, when this young man, who would eventually become David HaMelech, stood before the giant, he proclaimed:
(1sa 17:45) then David said to the philistine, "you come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the lord of hosts, the god of the armies of israel, whom you have taunted.
(1sa 17:46) "This day the L-rd will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a G-d in Israel,
(1sa 17:47) and that all this assembly may know that the L-rd does not deliver by sword or by spear; for (the battle is the L-rd's and he will give you into our hands."
This is how G-d wants us to act in the midst of our enemies. Today as we stand ready for our inheritance, ready for a harvest that I have been speaking about, G-d wants to give it to you, but you will need to protect what is yours.
In 2 Samuel 23 We have the story of Shammah. He is one of the 30 mighty men of David. I love this story, as I am named after one of these 30 men of King David's. In verse 38 we read about Ira a descendant of Gideon during the time of the Shoftim, and Ira = wakefullness.
(2Sa 23:11) Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. and the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.
(2sa 23:12) but he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the L-rd brought about a great victory.
Shammah stood againt the Philistines on his own in the natural, but with the "war Messiah" at his side. The philistines were a people of war, they did not plant, they did not work, they just attacked, and they would always attack during the time of harvest in order to feed their armies.
You have enemies today, including your greatest adversary, HaSatan.
He wants to steal your inheritance!
He wants to steal your harvest!
He wants to come attack your field of lentils and take them for himself!
However, G-d wants you to be like Shammah, and he wants you to stand in that field and proclaim:
This is my field!
These are my lentils!
I plowed this ground!I planted this field!
I watered this field!
This is my harvest!
AND YOU CAN'T HAVE IT!
If you will stand this day with the full Armor of Elohim, not faint hearted, and standing firm against any enemy, the "war Messiah,"Y'shua Ha'Mashiach will stand at your side. He will be girded for battle, and you will see the victory, as your enemies flee from before you.
When you have done everything to stand. Stand firm
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