March 20 – Reading 79

MARCH 20 – Reading 79

by Chris Rainey | March 20

“THOU SHALT NOT KILL”
(Joshua 20:1 – 21:45 & 1 Chronicles 6:16-30, 54-81)

“Say to the people of Israel,  ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.“ – Joshua 20:2-3

“I wasn’t trying to injure him. I’m just trying to keep him from hurting anyone else. He’s threatening people. That’s what we learn in the Marine Corps.” – Daniel Penny

Last year’s fatal encounter between Jordan Neely and Daniel Penny on a New York City subway raised the question of vigilantism and the need for people to intervene on behalf of others without legal authority.  Some praised Penny for his heroic actions; others vilified him for taking actions that resulted in the death of Neely, a homeless man with an extensive criminal record. Penny was ultimately charged and acquitted of manslaughter, which is the unintentional killing of another human being.  The Bible forbids murder (Exodus 5:13), the intentional killing of another human being, and regards it as a capital offense deserving the death penalty, but it distinguishes that from manslaughter, which is a lesser offense due to the lack of premeditated intent. 

In ancient Israel, if someone like Penny accidentally caused another person’s death, they would find sanctuary in a designated city of refuge. This city would protect them from the “avenger of blood,” usually a relative of the deceased, until a case could be adjudicated by the whole community to determine their guilt or innocence. However, it’s important to note that in cases of deliberate murder, even the boundaries of these cities couldn’t shield the perpetrator from the death penalty, which would have been carried out by the victims, families of victims (the “avenger of blood”), or witnesses of the crime.

The rule of law, according to the World Justice Project, is basically a system of laws, institutions, norms, and community commitment that delivers four key things: accountability, just laws, open government, and accessible and impartial justice. Israel’s establishment reflects this idea as the nation aimed to provide justice for its people through a legal system under the rule of law, instead of through the enforcement of justice by individual tribes and clans. This legal system ensured due process for the accused, showing how Israel would grow from a tribal people who worshipped God to a nation also committed to upholding justice.

“Thou shalt not kill,” but when it happens, there needs to be a legal system and enforcement that addresses the nuances of how it came about.

Application:
The Bible commands capital punishment for murder (Genesis 9:6). Many Christians see Jesus’ “eye for an eye” statement as a call to eliminate capital punishment; others see it as a call to restrain from retribution (and let the justice system provide due process). What do you think?

Reflections:
Unlike modern societies, the Bible does not differentiate between criminal, civil, family, and religious law.  Rather than compartmentalizing our commitments or focusing only on our religious commitment, how can we engage them as a whole?

Closing Prayer:
Dear Lord, please bless all the courts and judges in our country. Give them wisdom and understanding so they can find the truth and apply the law fairly, with respect for You. We pray that justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream in our land. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who will one day be our Judge. Amen.