Numbers 35
Murder - accident or homicide? It is natural reaction, that when a person dies at the hand of another, the family will want to avenge the blood of their brother and so we have the avenger of blood... (Our sins often have negative effects on others, inciting in them a desire for revenge. Our sins come back to haunt us) The victim's closest kin was usually designated as the avenger to seek out the person responsible for the death and to execute him. Death was the penalty for murder. However, for those cases where the death may have been accidental, God sets up cities of refuge. The suspect is safe in these cities until a hearing by the congregation has been completed. If he's found guilty of murder, he will die at the hands of the avenger. If he's found innocent then he can live safely as long as he lives inside the walls of the city of refuge. If he leaves the city and is killed by the avenger then there is no bloodguilt. There are no jails in Israel at the time. So in a very real sense, the one who accidentally killed another is given a life sentence. He is to be confined to the city of refuge for life or until the death of the high priest at which time he may return home.
Times have changed since the early days of Israel. The death penalty is a most disagreeable topic to discuss. The topic itself causes dissension. On the one hand our prisons are filled with men and women found guilty of murder and taxes go to support them till they find natural death or are murdered by someone else in prison. There are men and women who are so dangerous that they cannot even be allowed to live in the general prison population and must be segregated. On the other hand, who can say whether a man or woman would be able to make changes in their lives while in prison? Who can say that they might not repent (although this does the victim or their families no good) and be saved? Maybe it will take them a lifetime to get to know the Lord, maybe it will never happen. Only God knows. I do not know. All we can do is pray for them.
This is going to be a bit longer than usual as I want to share with you this morning a newsletter article I wrote in July of 2000. I started writing about him, but it is difficult. My young friend, who is no longer so young is always in my prayers.
JOURNEYS OF THE HEART
Greetings:
Recently I received word that a young friend (he celebrates his 20th birthday this month), who is very special to me, has "received life." Now in the Christian context you might assume that he has received Christ into his life - that he has received the promise of eternal life. I wish that I could say that this is so. He "received life" in the worldly context. He was sentenced to life in prison, without parole. When I heard the sentence he had received, in grief, I voiced it aloud:
GOD'S PEACE - Judy
Murder - accident or homicide? It is natural reaction, that when a person dies at the hand of another, the family will want to avenge the blood of their brother and so we have the avenger of blood... (Our sins often have negative effects on others, inciting in them a desire for revenge. Our sins come back to haunt us) The victim's closest kin was usually designated as the avenger to seek out the person responsible for the death and to execute him. Death was the penalty for murder. However, for those cases where the death may have been accidental, God sets up cities of refuge. The suspect is safe in these cities until a hearing by the congregation has been completed. If he's found guilty of murder, he will die at the hands of the avenger. If he's found innocent then he can live safely as long as he lives inside the walls of the city of refuge. If he leaves the city and is killed by the avenger then there is no bloodguilt. There are no jails in Israel at the time. So in a very real sense, the one who accidentally killed another is given a life sentence. He is to be confined to the city of refuge for life or until the death of the high priest at which time he may return home.
Times have changed since the early days of Israel. The death penalty is a most disagreeable topic to discuss. The topic itself causes dissension. On the one hand our prisons are filled with men and women found guilty of murder and taxes go to support them till they find natural death or are murdered by someone else in prison. There are men and women who are so dangerous that they cannot even be allowed to live in the general prison population and must be segregated. On the other hand, who can say whether a man or woman would be able to make changes in their lives while in prison? Who can say that they might not repent (although this does the victim or their families no good) and be saved? Maybe it will take them a lifetime to get to know the Lord, maybe it will never happen. Only God knows. I do not know. All we can do is pray for them.
This is going to be a bit longer than usual as I want to share with you this morning a newsletter article I wrote in July of 2000. I started writing about him, but it is difficult. My young friend, who is no longer so young is always in my prayers.
JOURNEYS OF THE HEART
judy mattson
I then, as Paul - an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus - I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. Philemon 9-11 Greetings:
Recently I received word that a young friend (he celebrates his 20th birthday this month), who is very special to me, has "received life." Now in the Christian context you might assume that he has received Christ into his life - that he has received the promise of eternal life. I wish that I could say that this is so. He "received life" in the worldly context. He was sentenced to life in prison, without parole. When I heard the sentence he had received, in grief, I voiced it aloud:
"HE RECEIVED LIFE."
There is hope in those words. It is my hope that this sentence in this world is the sign to me that he has received life eternal, although he may not realize that fact, yet. I have prayed for him often, that we would be one in Christ - that he would enter into the Body of Christ. It is painful for me to think of one so young living behind bars for another 50 or 60 years. But, it is reality. A reality that may seem cruel, but may also be the very opportunity needed for him to "receive life." This friend of mine received the consequences that were due him in this life, yet, he still has the opportunity for freedom - a freedom that is found only in Christ - for all eternity.
We read in Philemon, Paul who is in prison has converted a young man. Paul spent a good portion of his ministry behind bars. Although scripture has no record of how many received the truth of Christ through the Word spoken by Paul, I am sure there were quite a few. I guess you could say he was called to prison ministry, but not in the way most of us view prison ministry. He was there, living it. One on one, he experienced the pain and suffering of those in prison with him. Because he suffered the same pain, he understood and others listened and others received life.
There is a prison, though, that is worse than any earthly prison surrounded by bars and barbed wire. There is a prison we don't recognize quite as easily. That is our bondage to sin - our bondage to the desires and ways of this world - our desires to be served rather than serve in the love of Christ. This prison is harder for us to recognize or realize and so often we never even desire the freedom from it. Many actually come to like it in these chains. Within the walls of a correctional facility freedom can be found in Christ Jesus - the freedom to love and serve - the world is not competing quite as loudly for first place in your life.
There is truth in Christ's Words: "Those who die to this world, shall receive eternal life." And again..."..the truth shall set you fee." However, for those of us who may be bound in a prison of worldly comforts of self-serving desires and pursuits, it's really hard to see the truth (often preferring not to see the truth, about our need for forgiveness, so we don't ask), remaining in bondage to sin.
As we celebrate the 4th of July and freedom this year - let us ask God to reveal to us whether we are truly free. Let us pray first for salvation, for freedom in Christ. Let us pray for one another, in love, that forgiveness in Christ be received by all God's children who find themselves in prison: the correctional facilities and those chained to the desires of this world. Let us also pray a prayer of Thanksgiving for our Prison Chaplains and all who work in the Prison Ministry for bringing the Light of Christ into such dark lives.
We read in Philemon, Paul who is in prison has converted a young man. Paul spent a good portion of his ministry behind bars. Although scripture has no record of how many received the truth of Christ through the Word spoken by Paul, I am sure there were quite a few. I guess you could say he was called to prison ministry, but not in the way most of us view prison ministry. He was there, living it. One on one, he experienced the pain and suffering of those in prison with him. Because he suffered the same pain, he understood and others listened and others received life.
There is a prison, though, that is worse than any earthly prison surrounded by bars and barbed wire. There is a prison we don't recognize quite as easily. That is our bondage to sin - our bondage to the desires and ways of this world - our desires to be served rather than serve in the love of Christ. This prison is harder for us to recognize or realize and so often we never even desire the freedom from it. Many actually come to like it in these chains. Within the walls of a correctional facility freedom can be found in Christ Jesus - the freedom to love and serve - the world is not competing quite as loudly for first place in your life.
There is truth in Christ's Words: "Those who die to this world, shall receive eternal life." And again..."..the truth shall set you fee." However, for those of us who may be bound in a prison of worldly comforts of self-serving desires and pursuits, it's really hard to see the truth (often preferring not to see the truth, about our need for forgiveness, so we don't ask), remaining in bondage to sin.
As we celebrate the 4th of July and freedom this year - let us ask God to reveal to us whether we are truly free. Let us pray first for salvation, for freedom in Christ. Let us pray for one another, in love, that forgiveness in Christ be received by all God's children who find themselves in prison: the correctional facilities and those chained to the desires of this world. Let us also pray a prayer of Thanksgiving for our Prison Chaplains and all who work in the Prison Ministry for bringing the Light of Christ into such dark lives.
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