An Unsolved Murder

O. T. #410  "An Unsolved Murder"
November 18, 2014
Deuteronomy 21-Part 1
So you will purge from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.  Deuteronomy 21:9

LET IT GLOW

I have been watching the reruns of the old detective television show Matlock. They have the same scenario of a murder being committed, an innocent person accused of the murder, and this lawyer solves the situation of who did it. Did you know Israel was given instructions about the way to handle an unsolved murder? Read on.

What could happen in the land of Israel to make it polluted?
The answer is found in Numbers 36:33-34:33-34, where the LORD says, Bloodshed pollutes the land and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.

In the event that the guilty party of an unsolved homicide was unknown, justice could not adequately be serve. However, the people were still held responsible to deal with the crime. The elders were to break the neck of a heifer, indicating that the crime deserved to be punished. They washed their hands over the heifer, whose blood ran into a stream and not on the land. The priests were involved in the ceremony, but not performing the sprinkling of blood.


Verse 8 tells us that the elders of the city, after making a sacrifice of a heifer's blood, for an unsolved homicide occurring there, were to 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 my people of Israel's charge. and the blood shall be forgiven them.

In Hebrew language, the word redeemed means ransom; to release; preserve; rescue.

When the Levites and elders of the city of the location of the unsolved murder followed the instructions for the atonement of an unsolved murder, the Lord assures Israel in verse 9:
So you will purge from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

When Israel followed God's instructions, He honored His Word by taking away their guilt of bloodshed through murder. It required a blood sacrifice, a substitutionary atonement, which was looking forward to the work of Jesus on the cross for sinners.

[Resources: Guzik's Bible Commentary, Liberty Bible Commentary, The MacArthur Bible Commentary]

Have we killed another person? I'm not referring to physically taking their life, but their witness. I am guilty today for saying something bad about another. I asked forgiveness of my Lord for that sin. I should have had better control of my tongue.

At the trial of Jesus, found in Matthew 27:24, Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and an uproar of the crowd started. What did he do? Pilate took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. It was an empty gesture. He said, I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your responsibility.
How did the crowd respond? Let his blood be on us and on our children!
And so it is-the Jews killed their own Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Jesus gave His innocent blood to be shed as a sacrifice for sinners like you and me. Such love!
What am I willing to sacrifice for others to find the love of God?

LET IT GO

Do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.

Give to others so they experience the love of God.

Watch my mouth and control what comes out of it glorifies God.