Innocent Blood

(Proverbs 6:17 KJV)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Let me meddle a little bit.  The final phrase in this verse stood out to me today as I read through the chapter.  Most people, especially those with the gifts of mercy and helps, would read this as a call to passivism and non-violence.  They think they see that God hates people who “shed” (8210) “blood” (1818).

Actually, that is not what it says.  The problem is killing the “innocent” (5355a).  Keep in mind that the Bible allows for the death penalty.  Read through the law.  There is a difference between the killer who “lies in wait” and the one who kills someone accidentally or in self defense.  For manslaughter or self defense there were cities of refuge a man could flee to for protection from revenge.  If it was premeditated murder the city would turn him out.  We may not be under the law but it does give us a standard for right and wrong.

It does not allow for abortion or infanticide.  There is nothing more innocent than the unborn or the new born.  Israel was surrounded by cultures that thought nothing of killing or leaving their children to die.  God’s people were to be different.  We are surrounded by a culture that approves abortion and is on the verge of killing the deformed and unwanted. 

Most of us will never have to worry about this.  We will never be in the position where we have a need to kill.  But keep in mind that we live in a republic where the citizens have a hand in forming the kind of laws and judges we have.  We should support people and laws that support what the Bible actually teaches, not just what our emotions want to see.

So?  Be salt and light.  Read, think, pray, meditate and vote.  Speak up in meetings.  Don’t be embarrassed by being different.