Love and Justice

“All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. Also, you must never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to death. And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest. This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder. You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the LORD, who lives among the people of Israel.” [Numbers 35.30-34]

There is a lot of information in this passage about cities of refuge and the responsibility of the people regarding murder and the execution of murderers. The information found here is reasonable to God, so it should be reasonable to man... but it is not. The only contemporary difference would be that there is no high priest. But, that is an easy fix because the high priests, I believe, served as judges.

But there is more in this passage that interests me today. It says that murder "pollutes the land" and  further states that no sacrifice can purify the land except the execution of the murderer. Wow. The reason the land needs to stay pure is because God lives there.

Fast forward to 2020. Is it any wonder that we don't see more evidence of God living on earth when un-dealt-with murder abounds? And, this does not even take into account the countless murders performed routinely in our nation (and world) called abortion.

God is love, but justice is a necessary characteristic of that love. Justice is the pedestal upon which the lamp of love shines most brightly. Love stands above justice, but never without justice. If justice is ignored, love will ultimately suffer.

Jesus was clear that in the end times the effect of justice upon love will be evident:

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. [Matthew 24.12]

We must be in those end times.

Father in heaven, forgive us for our lawless and unjust ways as individuals and as a society!