“Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee” (Deuteronomy 19:13).
TEXT — Deuteronomy 19:11-21
Message
In European history, there was this theory of monarchical absolutism which gave kings their authority which they claimed was derived from God. These rulers said no one could question their actions the same way no one could challenge the King of heaven. But liberal theorists disagreed, arguing that only theocratic states could make such assertions.
Biblical Israel was such a nation governed by God. Although the children of Israel had kings and leaders, they were directly chosen by God Himself through His faithful prophets. Regularly, He gave them laws to reflect His own infallible sense of justice and to preserve for them a unique people. In this chapter, as the children of Israel got close to the Promised Land, the Lord issued laws to guide their interpersonal relationships and conduct among the heathen in the land they were going to inherit. This was to distinguish them from the heathen.
God warned them not to condone wilful murder. They must not change their neighbor’s landmarks that bore the imprimatur of approved tradition and history. They must not give final rulings on allegations about offenses unless they were proved by not less than two witnesses. Where a false witness was discovered, he would bear the punishment he planned for the accused. The Lord said all these regulations were designed to put “the evil away from among you”.
This same pursuit of justice should be the preoccupation of leaders. At home, in public places, in the church, in politics, in business, and in every human institution, using the law to achieve equity for all, especially the vulnerable, should be our watchword. The reign of evil worldwide is the result of the absence of justice, equity, and fairness as commanded by God
Thought for the day
We can put away evil from the world if we follow God’s system of justice.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
I’m a victim of injustice. False witnesses testified against me in an offence I didn’t commit. Consequently, I have been kept behind bar for more than 8yrs now. I need your intervention. Thank you sir.
Impactful sir
I’m a victim of injustice. False witnesses testified against me in an offence I didn’t commit. Consequently, I have been kept behind bar for more than 8yrs now. I need your intervention. Thank you sir.