Jewish tradition grapples with this tension, too.
Devarim Rabbah, a collection of homilies on the Book of Deuteronomy, offers a fascinating glimpse into how our sages understood the balance between divine justice and mercy. It all starts with the verse "Judges and officers you shall place" (Deuteronomy 16:18). But it quickly veers into a powerful, almost frightening image of God's power.
The text then quotes Deuteronomy 32:41-42, a passage filled with vivid imagery of a "flashing sword" and arrows "intoxicated with blood." It's intense. So, what's going on here?
Rabbi Yehuda and Rav Naḥman offer different, but related, interpretations. Rabbi Yehuda imagines God saying, "If I hone [shonen] My sword like lightning [barak], I will destroy My world!" The sheer force of divine justice, unleashed without restraint, would be catastrophic. So, what does God do instead? "I will grasp judgment in My hand." In other words, God chooses restraint, a conscious holding back of absolute power.
Rav Naḥman offers a similar idea. He pictures God saying, "If I change [meshaneh] the attribute of justice… If I no longer moderate it with the attribute of mercy, I will take out one lightning bolt [barak] and destroy the world!" Again, the idea is that unchecked justice, without the tempering influence of compassion, would lead to utter devastation.
These are powerful images. It's almost as if God is wrestling with God's own power, choosing to limit it in order to preserve the world. But how does this relate back to judges and officers?
Rabbi Yitzḥak provides the key. He says that there are two things held in God's right hand: righteousness and Torah. As it says in Psalms 48:11, "Your right hand is filled with righteousness," and in Deuteronomy 33:2, "From His right hand, a fiery law to them."
But there are also two other things in God's hand, according to Rabbi Yitzḥak: the soul and justice. We read in Job 12:10, "In whose hand is the life of every living thing." And, crucially, "My hand will grasp judgment," as we saw earlier.
Here’s the connection: God says, "The soul and justice are both in My hand; you keep justice, and I will keep your souls." This is the essence of "judges and officers." By establishing a system of justice, however imperfect, we participate in this divine restraint. We create a framework that allows God to continue to safeguard our souls.
It's a profound thought, isn't it? That our commitment to justice, to fairness, to the rule of law, is not just a human endeavor, but a partnership with the Divine. It's a way of holding back the potential for chaos and destruction, and allowing the world to continue.
So, the next time you think about justice – whether it's in a courtroom, in your community, or even in your own life – remember this image of God, hand outstretched, choosing to grasp judgment rather than unleash unbridled power. And remember that we, too, have a role to play in maintaining that delicate balance.