Scripture: Deuteronomy 19-21 (especially 19:1-13)
We are moving through Moses' delivery of the Law to Israel just before they finally enter the promised land. Each section generally corresponds to one of the Ten Commandments, in order, and today we've come to the section related to #6:
You shall not murder.
These three chapters of Deuteronomy contribute many instructions that reinforce the principle behind the sixth commandment: that life (particularly human life) is special, valuable, and worthy of protection.
Here are some of the many ways that Israel safeguarded life:
- murderers who were found guilty were killed (19:11-12; I'm not saying anything here about the death penalty, which you can agree or disagree with; the point is that this was meant to deter other murderers and protect life)
- however, protections were made for people falsely accused of murder (19:18-19) and for those who killed someone accidentally (19:3-6)
- when attacking a city, Israel would first offer a peace offering (20:10; yes, the surrendering city would become indentured servants, but that's a lot better than death and at any rate shows a valuing of their lives)
- when attacking a city, Israel would not kill its trees unless necessary (20:19-20; The Message paraphrase renders the humorous, "Are trees soldiers who come against you with weapons?")
- if a dead person was found and appeared to be murdered, Israel would pray to God to forgive them corporately (21:7-8)
All these practices reveal that God wanted Israel to respect and protect life, especially human life. It may cause you to wonder, "Why? Why is life so worthy of protection?" To answer that, we need only look back to God's blessing and commission to Noah's family just after the Flood:
"Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind." (Genesis 9:6)
The reason human life is precious, the reason it matters, the reason it's worth protecting...
Humans were made in God's image.
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