” ‘If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.’ ” (v30-34)
These verses summarize a series of laws regarding murderers/manslayers and cities of refuge (6 of the 48 cities which the Levite will inherit). If someone intentionally kills another, they are a murderer and shall be put to death. If they accidentally kill someone, they may flee to one of the cities of refuge to await trial. If they’re found innocent they can live in that refuge city until the current high priest dies, and then they may go free. If they leave the city prematurely, they can be executed by one who is avenging the person they accidentally killed.
The main reason behind punishing the guilty and allowing the innocent to go free is this: ” ‘You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.’ ” (v34) God does not want Israel (both the nation and the geographic area) to be “defiled” (desecrated, soiled, ie. full of sin). God takes sin very seriously, as we have seen several times so far, and He will not stand for allowing sin to remain within His chosen people with whom He dwells.
This is still true of God today – He will not tolerate sin, He must deal with it fully. This is the entire reason Jesus came to earth to die on the cross – to receive the death penalty for our sin. Verse 33b said “no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it”. This means that the person who committed the sin is the one who must pay for their sin, except Jesus was able to take our place and pay the price on our behalf (He’s the only one who could, because all other people are guilty of their own sin [Jesus was innocent]).
In a few days we will be changing our calendars over to a new year (this happens automatically if you have electronic calendars…). My challenge for today is to act like every day is a new year – to seize the fresh opportunities to love on someone or reconcile where needed. Life is too short to live in bitterness or fear. Let’s live as if Jesus’s death is not a waste, as if His sacrifice means something. Let’s give other people (and ourselves) second, third, one hundred twenty-third chances, to receive Jesus’ love as we have. Let’s have a better attitude today than we had yesterday. We can’t change the past, but we can choose our heart’s posture each and every present moment. I encourage us to live as if sin is defeated and we are freed from its bondage. Let’s love lavishly, forgive quickly, and not waste the opportunities God gives us, because He paid the ultimate price to give us those opportunities.
Father God, Wise and Sovereign Lord we honor and revere You. Please accept our humble praise and adoration. Please continue to have patience with us as you teach us Your ways. Please help us to seize each and every God-given opportunity to show Christ’s love. Please help us to be bold and courageous when pursuing Your will for our lives, so we may not be deterred. Please help us to unashamedly proclaim Your gospel with our mouths and hands, so all would know the love You exhibited on the cross. Jesus, we thank You for Your outpouring of love, and the amazing gift You have given us. Please guide us along our journeys, and show us how to walk in Your footsteps. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training