Hands that shed innocent blood – part 2
1)
Have we ever noticed how one word in the Bible can say
or summarize many things?
2)
Take for an example of my point the word “cup.”
3)
In many places the word “cup” represents the fate of a
persons’ life.
a)
In Ps. 16 the writer credited God with assigning his
“portion and cup” in life.
b)
In Ps. 23 the writer speaks of his life as a “cup” that
overflows.
c)
This man did not have in mind a literal cup; he meant
his life/his fate/his existence.
d)
The word “cup” is one example of many Bible words are
filled with meaning.
4)
What we see with the word “cup” is also found in the
word “hands.”
a)
We may think of hands as being part of our upper body,
and that is true.
b)
In the Bible “hands” often refer to a person’s deeds.
c)
We heard this from some of the scriptures read – Ps.
7:3; 18:20, 24; 24:4.
5)
A figure of speech often found in the Bible and used by
us is a “metonymy.”
6)
A metonymy is where we say one thing, but we mean
something else.
7)
A news reporter may say, “We are receiving word from
the White House.”
a)
Have we ever stopped to literally think about these
words?
b)
Is there really a “talking house”?
c)
Is there really a talking house that is white in color?
d)
We automatically realize this type of speech is a
metonymy.
8)
White House is often understood as the executive branch
of the
9)
Consider another example: there is a “big apple” in the
10) This
apple is a city, a place instead of
something we can eat.
11) In
the Bible “hands” are a metonymy; as already noted,
they often stand for a person’s deeds.
a)
God refers to man’s “hands” in Prov.
6 and associates an activity with them.
b)
He said these hands “shed” something. They shed blood. They shed INNOCENT blood.
c)
If someone is “innocent,” that often means someone else
is “guilty.”
d)
If there is “innocent blood,” there is probably blood
that is not so innocent.
12) When
God said He hates the taking innocent blood, He implies that people die in
different ways.
13) He
implies that some deaths are unjust (i.e. there blood is “innocent”).
14) This
conclusion is verified throughout many parts of the Bible.
15) Homicide is a word we use to describe
times when the life of another human
being is taken.
16) With
some homicides, innocent blood is shed.
a)
Think of a young mother out with her child in a public
place such as a city park.
b)
She is attacked, beaten and dies. She was innocent of any wrongdoing.
c)
Cain killed Abel; why?
1 Jn. 3:12 says Abel was “righteous.” His innocent blood was shed.
d)
Abel was not perfect, but he did not deserve to die in
the manner he died.
e)
When Uriah, Bathsheba’s
husband was killed, innocent blood was shed.
f)
When John the Baptist died, innocent blood was shed.
g)
When Stephen was killed, innocent blood was shed. All these deaths were homicides.
17) In
the Old Testament we read about four different types of homicide.
a)
The Old Testament recognizes what we might call
“justifiable homicide.”
b)
In our culture we usually refer to this as
“self-defense.”
18) Our
first reference to be read during this lesson comes from Ex. 22.
19) This
passage talks about thieves.
a)
Theft is a very old problem; people have been taking
things from others for a very long time.
b)
In the case of Ex. 22, Moses wrote about a man who
decided to steal an ox or a sheep.
c)
He said a man might “sell” what he stole or he might
kill what he stole.
d)
Our legal system may not always be very tough on
thieves.
e)
The Old Testament law was pretty stiff.
f)
Ex. 22:1 says a man who stole one ox had to give back 5
oxen to the victim.
g)
If a sheep was stolen, 4 sheep were to be returned for
every one sheep that was taken.
20) In
verses 2-3 of this chapter we encounter another little detail.
21) Suppose
a homeowner was home and a thief was caught in the act.
a)
This is where the law got very interesting.
b)
Verses 2-3 of Ex. 22 – READ
22) If
a thief broken in during the night and the homeowner killed the thief, the
homeowner was justified.
23) It
was acceptable for the homeowner to defend his property with deadly force at
night.
24) If
the attempted theft took place during the day, the homeowner was not allowed to
kill the thief.
25) Apparently
God expected Hebrews to call for or get help during the daytime hours.
26) Being
robbed at night gave the Hebrews the right to take the life of a robber.
27) Since this act was allowed,
but God hates shedding innocent blood, a robber’s blood (life) is not innocent.
a)
God does not look kindly on criminal activity.
b)
We know God does not want any to perish (2 Pet. 3:9),
and this includes thieves.
c)
When people choose sin over God, there are often tragic
consequences which can include death.
28) A
second type of homicide in the Bible is one that our law readily recognizes.
29) There
are “accidental deaths.”
a)
While on vacation Teresa and I went up into a war memorial—a
very tall memorial.
b)
The only way to the top was by elevator and an elevator
repair crew was working on the system.
c)
As we used this device repairmen were actually on top
of the elevator as it moved.
d)
We could not see them, but that line of work reminds us
that there are dangerous occupations.
e) People have fallen off
buildings, been injured with tools, and experienced a wide variety of accidents.
30) In
the book of Numbers (35:22-28) we read about some deadly accidents.
31) Verse
22 speaks of pushing someone; perhaps the idea is two people rough housing.
32) Even
though no malice or harm is intended, a person is killed in the process.
33) Innocent
blood is shed.
34) At
the end of verse 22 another illustration is given.
35) Suppose
someone throws something and the object hits another person and kills him.
36) Once
again innocent blood is shed.
a)
A few years ago I spoke with someone who lives in
b)
It was a day with low visibility and this fellow was
out in his yard.
c)
A bullet whizzed by his ear. Some other bullets immediately followed.
d)
This fellow figured out where the shots were coming
from and made his way to the shooter.
e)
A neighbor was firing a 22. The neighbor was not mad or angry.
f)
He wanted to shoot off a few rounds and was using very
bad judgment.
g)
Thankfully he did not injure anyone. People are sometimes careless with things and
people die.
h)
God had a plan for this type of thing when the Old
Testament law was in force.
i)
God knew that even with an accidental death, people
would be angry that their loved one died.
37) In
what we call the Old Testament there are places called the six “cities of refuge.”
38) A
person who accidentally took a life could flee to one of these cities.
39) The
cities were arranged so no one would ever be more than about 30 miles from one
of these places.
40) A
person could claim sanctuary in one of these cities until the facts of the case
were established.
41) If
it turned out that a death was not an accident, the person who sought refuge
was killed, Ex. 21:14.
42) If
a person really did kill someone accidentally, they could stay in the city and
be protected.
43) If
they ever left that city, an avenger could track them down and take their life
(Num. 35:9-28).
44) If
the high priest died, the man who sought refuge could then safely go wherever
he wanted.
45) A
third category of homicide in the Bible is what we might call “judicial
homicide.”
46) This
means a person is guilty of murder and they need to be removed from society.
47) Such
a person is a menace, a threat, and poses a high probable of killing again if
they are released.
48) A
mass murderer is in this category. Such
a man may be put to death for his crimes.
49) Others
who take lives on a large scale may also be put to death.
50) Blood
is shed (a life is taken) to protect the innocent blood of others.
51) A
fourth and final category is premeditated
murder.
a)
This is the type of murder that we find in life as well
as fiction.
b)
One becomes angry with a stranger or someone they know
and the outcome is murder.
c) People kill because of jealousy, rage,
money, love, hate, or an emotional disturbance.
d)
In our country a person charged with premeditated
murder may be let off on a technicality.
e)
Others may serve a very limited number of years in
prison.
f)
A murderer may be regarded as a possible candidate for
“rehabilitation.”
g)
God said something to the nation of
52) This
information is located in Deut. 19:11-13 – READ
53) Premeditated
murder was a crime where God said mercy and pity were not deserved.
54) Planning
to take a life and then following through with that plan meant a person was to
die.
55) If
a man were guilty of this crime, the punishment was swift, sure and final.
a)
In our culture a lot of work and money has gone into
saying “crime does not pay.”
b)
God did not use advertising agencies to promote this
message within
c)
God made this point in stating how people were to be
punished.
d)
Some crimes were so bad that they merited the death
penalty and there was zero mercy.
e)
In the case of murder, if this crime was established,
this was an “open and shut case.”
56) When
we look at the shedding of blood from the standpoint of homicide, we find some
key lessons.
57) We
learn that in life some actions are accidents.
a)
God distinguished between killing someone by accident and
the intentional murder of someone.
b)
As we deal with people we need to remember that some
things in life are accidents.
c)
People may do something bad to us and it may be very
bad, but that is not their intention.
d)
If we are the people of God, we will try to distinguish
between accidents and intentional acts.
58) When
we study about murder, we find that it is associated with theft.
59) God
is upset by people who steal. This was
one of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:15).
60) We
want to avoid stealing—stealing property, money, or even time that does not
belong to us.
61) Some
people steal pencils from the office and others embezzle millions of dollars.
62) The
degree and type of theft may differ, but there is a sense in which theft is
theft.
63) We
learn from the references that were given that God expects wrongdoers to be
punished.
64) This
is especially true for those who shed innocent blood. Justice is very important in God’s eyes.
65) There
is also this a very relevant and very important point.
66) In
48 hours people throughout this nation are going to cast a variety of votes.
a)
No candidate that I know in our entire nation is a New
Testament Christian.
b)
Surely none of them believe all that the Bible teaches
on a full spectrum of moral issues.
c)
As we look at the variety of choices we can select
from, there is something to bear in mind.
d)
God hates the
shedding of innocent blood. This is
stated in no uncertain terms.
e)
It is impossible to not understand this point.
f)
We need to remind our leaders in every lawful way we
can that God hates the shedding of blood.
67) I
had someone call me a while back and ask if I would vote for their candidate.
68) I
had one question: Does the candidate you
are calling for believe in the shedding of innocent blood?
69) Long
ago an inspired man said: Righteousness
exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
70) May
God help our nation have leaders who openly oppose the shedding of innocent blood.
71) Whoever
our next leaders are, let’s pray they are people who understand how serious
this sin is.
72) We
need the courage to stand up for the truth of Prov. 6
as well.
a)
Politicians like to end speeches with things like “God
bless
b)
God is not going to bless
c)
God says He hates the shedding of blood.
d)
One day the Son of God will return and those who shed
blood but were not forgiven will pay.
e)
They will answer for every drop of blood they
shed. Others who are unforgiven
will also answer.
f)
Are we ready for that day?