20140112 Sunday, January 12 2014
Deuteronomy 19: Innocent Unless Proven Guilty

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"

Satan is the greatest liar and fraud (see also Satan's Masquerade). He is the spiritual "father" of all liars - religious or otherwise.

"8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44 KJV)

"11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV)

Satan is also the greatest accuser. His name, from the Hebrew word pronounced saw-tawn, literally means adversary. The word itself is not evil, nor is a person who rightfully brings a charge against a criminal, but for the Devil it is used in the context of a false accuser, or blasphemer (see also Blaspheming The Name Of God).

Some translations use the literal meaning of his name in place of the name itself i.e. in the verse below, instead of "Satan the devil" it has "adversary the devil."

"5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (1 Peter 5:8 KJV)

The liar-accuser is also used for people e.g. Haman, who, through false accusations, sought to kill all Jews in the Persian Empire in the time of Esther (see Esther: The Lots Of Purim). The very same name used for "Satan" is also used for people who behave, most particularly speak, like the Devil.

"7:6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman." (Esther 7:6 KJV)

The system of justice that was established by the LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) was designed to punish the guilty and to protect the innocent. As seen throughout human history, a hot-headed vigilante or the frenzy of a lynch mob serve the way of Satan, not the way of truth and justice. For that reason, the LORD established "cities of refuge" throughout the land of Israel where an accused person could seek refuge until a fair and legitimate trial.

"19:1 When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; 19:2 Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. 19:3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.

19:4 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; 19:5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: 19:6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. 19:7 Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

19:8 And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers; 19:9 If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three: 19:10 That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.

19:11 But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: 19:12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. 19:13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

19:14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it." (Deuteronomy 19:1-14 KJV)

Witnesses (not necessarily eye witnesses e.g. someone who saw injuries suffered by an assault victim also qualified as a witness) were the basis of any accusation. False witnesses were given the same sentence as a guilty person would have received e.g. someone who falsely accused someone of murder would be executed just as a murderer would have been executed.

"19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

19:16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; 19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; 19:18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19:19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. 19:20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. 19:21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." (Deuteronomy 19:15-21 KJV)

Fact Finder: Did the Messiah receive a "fair trial"? Or was He lynched by religious authorities and politicians who knew that He was innocent?
See Innocent Blood