We Have Sinned!

Since the time of Creation, life has been treasured by God. Many of Earth’s creatures protect the life of their young (Lamentations 4:3). Disturb the young of a mother bear and witness the vigorous reaction of the beast’s natural instinct to protect her baby. She knows of no Commandment about life. By the natural presence of her sense of life’s value, she charges to the defense of her cub to protect it from being killed. Man is the only creature that has had to be told to respect the high value of life. From the very first, the worth man has allotted to life has been inadequate. When Cain murdered Able in the field, he was questioned about it by God. (Genesis 4:10-13) And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. The act resulted in severe punishment, banishment from civilization and poor crops. Loneliness and hunger were his reward.

Everyone of sane disposition considers his life precious. The outstanding individual also considers the life of another precious. Although King Saul was hunting David down to take his life, David spared the King’s life when he had the opportunity to kill him. David and one of his men crept into the camp where Saul was sleeping, and David took Saul’s spear and water flask. Retreating to a safe distance, David woke the camp, calling to Abner, Saul’s bodyguard. Saul recognized this great act of mercy by David, and felt remorseful. (1 Samuel 26:21) Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. It’s a good story. Read it in Chapter 26 of 1 Samuel.

Murder is the taking of another person’s life for some form of gain, be it money or property (1 Kings 21), the satisfaction of hate (Cain and Able), or the acquisition of a lover (2 Samuel 11). Do not confuse murder with killing. Remember, David killed thousands in war, but was called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:21-22). It is the taking of life for one’s own gain that is the forbidden act of murder. Life is so precious, God considers it better to let the suspected murderer go free than to risk executing an innocent man. His guilt had to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. (Numbers 35:30-31) Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. (One witness was not enough. There had to be at least two.) Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. The execution of the murderer was not considered murder and no penalty was called for, a concept that many today fail to grasp. God demands punishment for those who willfully take another’s life with malice. That punishment is death, because life, especially the life of the innocent, is precious.