King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 4 notes
Read Deuteronomy 19 in the app
1When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;
2Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
3Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.
4And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;
5As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
Why did the Lord their God not prevent this, being present in their midst and seeing all things?
Why did he not prevent this, but rather has made concessions for what should be done, and for the innocent slayer?
It is obvious that God was setting up the general principles of guidance for man 👨 to follow without God's direct supervision.
Man was to be governed by the laws of God, and God was setting up the system for that, so it would not require his constant monitoring and interruption.
So now, with the system set and running 🏃, now God can step in as He pleases to, for instance, prevent the axe head from killing an innocent man 👨, or he can choose to let it happen, because in his providence that man ought to die but justice has eluded him.
Or the innocent slayer would flee to the land, and in that land God has a plan for him or his descendants.
Once the system is working, God can be God in controlling things behind the scenes in his divine wisdom and judgements.
It's the same in our world today; many times evil 😈 befalls us and we ask why.
Knowing very well that God could have prevented it. But that is the providence of God.
Though we may not always understand him, that is his providence.
6Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
Interestingly, the avenger of blood is not guilty if he succeeds in catching up with the killer, though he be innocent. For the just punishment for shedding blood is to shed blood.
However, provision is made so he can escape to the city of refuge, because he is not worthy of death.
7Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.
8And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;
9If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:
10That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.
11But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
12Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
13Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
By the time we get to the days of David, the people had so neglected the word of the Lord. And so, try as King David did, he could not keep the law to the letter, but he did do very well as a king. He was always the reference point and the best amongst them.
For instance, in King David's time, Joab his nephew killed many innocent men, but nothing could be done about it at that time till later. He, Joab, was too powerful then.
Point 2:
At this stage the Israelites were in very close alignment with the word of God, so they were really blessed. They could go to war and no one died. Fast forward to David, and many things had been neglected.
So the people made the most of what they had, including the righteous. I gave the example of a good king like David letting Joab live despite being a murderer twice.
Look at the time of Daniel: such abominations were being committed, and righteous men like Daniel lived in that generation and yet could do nothing, and eventually were taken captive alongside the wicked.
But God showed mercy to his children. Fast forward, here we are in 21st-century Christendom — we must strive to hold the banner of Christ high, and yet also practically manage the situations we find in our churches.
We have so strayed from the faith that was once handed down to us. But we will make the most of it, and shine the light of God's word to our brethren.
Another generation might come who would do better, and maybe restore the first order, near perfect, as was handed down to us.
But till then we have to make the most of what we have and make do with what flock come to the church.
That is why today we have all manner of characters serving in church and leading as church leaders. Lord have mercy — we would make the most of it as we trust God to bring change to the hearts of people.
14Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
I'll use this scripture to claim what is rightfully mine in case someone tries to claim my land ☺ 😁
15One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
16If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
17Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
18And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
19Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
21And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.