Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 17; Psalm 104; Isaiah 44; Revelation 14
And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously. (Deuteronomy 17:12-13)
Capital punishment is God's plan in the scriptures. If the law has no teeth, it will do no good. However, the law is not something that man has made up; it is that which came from our Creator. Beware of men who make laws! Look to the Word of God and see that God has given us the basis for all human law in his Holy Word. When Moses reminded the people about the law, he made a provision for situations that were too difficult for them to handle among themselves. In these instances, they were to go to the priests or the judges and let them arbitrate in the matter. When the matter was taken to the priests or the judges, and the offending party would not listen to them, the punishment was death.
If we look closely at God's Word, the death penalty was instituted during the days of Noah. After the flood, God delegated human government into the hands of Noah to be carried out by men. They were to heed God's Word and implement it into human society.
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:5-6)
The life of mankind is precious in God's sight. A beast that killed a man must die. A man that murdered a man must die. Notice please that God says the offending party shall have his blood shed by man. This means that God gave the law, but mankind was to carry out the sentence. This is not vigilante justice nor is it inhumane. It is that form of government that God intended man to live by. Notice in Deuteronomy that the Bible says when a man is executed justly that all the people shall hear and fear and do no more presumptuously.
When a man commits a crime worthy of death and he dies at the hands of justice, it is a STRONG deterrent to anyone else who might want to do the same. God's word says so! As you pray and vote, please know that capital punishment for murder is Biblical! As followers of Jesus we should be merciful and compassionate, but we must not throw out God's Word. The New Testament uses the image of a sword to illustrate human government's authority.
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:4)
Human government must execute wrath on those who do evil or that government is NOT good!
In Christ,
Rody
