FORGIVE AND REDEEM YOUR PEOPLE
Keywords 21:8
Accept this atonement for
your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, O LORD, and do not hold your people
guilty of the blood of an innocent man." And the bloodshed will be atoned
for.
1. Forgiveness and redemption (1-9)
In this passage,
there are deep overtones of Jesus’ death and sacrifice for our sins. If a man
is murdered mysteriously and the perpetrator cannot be determined, then the
nearest community should assume collective responsibility and sacrifice a new
heifer to make atonement for the sin and purify the land of guilt. This
required a deep sense of God’s forgiveness and redemption, as well as a longing
for national holiness. The power of sin is random and life-threatening and
brings a curse. We need to accept responsibility and pray for our community and
nation to be forgiven and redeemed.
2. Protection for
women and children (10-17)
A foreign woman who
was captured and taken as a bride was given rights in the Israelite community.
The inheritance of a firstborn son should be protected in the case of a second
marriage. We need to respect those for whom we are directly responsible.
3. Disobedience and
curse (18-23)
A rebellious son
should be stoned before the community. A man worthy of death should be hung on a
tree as a sign of being cursed. Jesus bore all our rebellion before God and was
cursed in our place.
Prayer Lord, we need to be
forgiven and redeemed through Jesus.
One Word Pray for godly leaders!
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