NKJV 365 / For a Better Way

NKJV 365 Day Reading Plan

Day 53 of 365 For a Better Way The practice of blood vengeance was common in the ancient Near East. Divine law was formulated to control and limit blood vengeance in Israel (vv. 9-34). God's Word regulating this practice differs significantly from the surrounding cultures. It distinguishes between accidental and premeditated killing. It forbids taking ransom money for the life of a murderer and prohibits taking the life of a murderer's relative in his place. The difference of practice was due to Israel's unique view of man as created in God's image. These directives regarding blood vengeance are referred to here as a "statue of judgment," coming from a word meaning "to engrave." The Word of God comes to Israel by way of a written prescription. The law was not something localized, for it was given to govern and direct their conduct "in all [their] dwellings." We can truly be grateful that the revelation of God comes in a permanently accessible form, that is, the inspired written Word, so that we are left in no doubt as to what the Lord is saying concerning the conduct of our lives. Taken from The Devotional Daily Bible Numbers 35:29-34 NASB 29 'These things shall be for a statutory ordinance to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 30 'If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 31 Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. 32 You shall not take ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to live in the land before the death of the priest. 33 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. 34 You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the L ord am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.'"