The nature of today’s Lesson almost necessitates reading the first paragraph of Deuteronomy chapter 21. The first nine verses, that is. “If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him: then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain. And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke; and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’s neck there in the valley. And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near … and all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them. So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 21:1-9
The Text implies that God always holds someone guilty for any innocent blood shed in an area. Then to buttress the code, God gives an example of “trying” to absolve that guilt.
In other words, “How to handle an unsolved murder!” Maybe I had better say, “unpunished murder!”
First, from the point where the dead man or woman was found … measure to calculate the nearest city! They (its inhabitants) will be held accountable (to some degree anyway) for the “innocent” blood shed in their vicinity!
That city’s leaders must go to the crime scene and perform a (blood must be shed) God prescribed ritual involving an innocent animal (a heifer in this case). Then (in the presence of God ordained Priests) “wash their hands” over the slain heifer! Thereby indicating the city’s innocence concerning the crime committed near her borders!
Wow!
The city’s elders are to pray to God: “Our hands have NOT shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge.” Then, immediately we’re told … “The blood shall be forgiven them.”
What’s the point here?
Why a Lesson on this so-called archaic Text?
To show God’s concern for the shedding of “innocent blood.”
Human life is that SPECIAL to the Lord God Almighty!
After all, man (woman) … is the very “crown, apex, ultimate” of all God’s Creation!
Amen.
By the way, if all this had to be done when one dead body was found near a city, with the murderer still un-apprehended … WHAT DOES GOD ULTIMATELY PLAN TO DO TO CITIES WHO HARBOR ABORTION CLINICS WHERE DOZENS (OR HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS) OF LITTLE BABIES ARE MURDERED?
Surely, their blood is innocent!
Think about it.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell