“Atonement For
The Innocent”
Today’s passage
deals with the moral responsibility of community. It shows that God expects His
people (Israel) to treat human life with respect.
This
expectation is reflected in laws that called for the community as a whole to
take responsibility for the shedding of innocent blood. Rather than shrugging
their shoulders and ignoring any unsolved murder, the children of Israel were
to investigate and make atonement for the innocent.
How often
do we turn our heads from a situation and say to ourselves, “This is not my
job, not my responsibility”, when in love we could make a difference. There
comes a point in the life of a mature person when he or she says, “Even though
this isn’t my problem, I’m going to do something!” That
something could come in the form of a hot meal, a warm blanket, a needed ride, or
a completed chore.
This is
exactly what our Lord both wanted/wants His people doing. Helping those in need who had no
one to help them. In this case, making atonement for an unsolved murder and the
shedding of innocent blood.
The Truth
“Let each of you look out not only
for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)
