To the right or to the left

[David ben Shaul]

In Deuteronomy 17:12, we are told not to deviate from the right or the
left when it comes to judgments.

Judgments are meant to dispense justice. What is justice or rather
what purpose does justice serve? The desire for justice is to set an
example of what behavior is not tolerated. But it also is meant to
reform the guilty.

The right and left concept are modeled after HaShem and G-d
respectively. The right represents kindness, while the left represent
severity. The right arm and hand of our Creator represents His
kindness and leniency. The left arm and hand of our Creator
represents strength and severity

Thus we are told in Deuteronomy 17:12 to make sure that we carry out
the sentence as determined. It also tells us that the sentence itself
should be weighed out in a fashion that can bring corrective behavior
for the guilty. A too harsh of a judgment will create resentment and
deter correction while too easy of a judgment will create a lack of
respect that will deter the guilty to correct.

It is taught that King Messiah will be the one to best balance the two
extremes.

His Servant,
David ben Shaul
Beit HaMenorah
www.utom.org