Day 67: God's Justice and Refuge

Today's readings: Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 19-20, and Psalm 99.

I. In Numbers 18, the focus is on the duties, privileges, and support of the priests and Levites in ancient Israel. The first two were clearly needed after the events in chapter 16, while the priests rely for support upon God through the offerings and the Levites are to receive tithes from the Israelites as their income. Finally, the Levites are to give a tithe of the tithe to the priests. In this, roles are clearly delineated and a system of support for those serving in religious roles is created.

II. Deuteronomy 19 matters of justice and mercy are the focus. God commands that cities of refuge be established in the Promised Land they enter for those guilt of manslaughter, that is the unintentional killing of others. More are to be added if Israel expands its territory. Those who are guilty of intentional murder though are to handed over for punishment (19:1-13). Next, Israelites were forbidden from moving boundary markers that marked property lines of their neighbors, which was essentially land theft (19:14). Finally, no one can be convicted on the testimony of only one witness and anyone who bears false witness against an accused shall have the punishment he sought against the falsely accused inflicted upon him (19:15-21).

In the next chapter, Israel is given laws concerning warfare. The chapter combines military instruction with spiritual, moral, and humanitarian principles. It is the verses concerning the extermination of certain nations within Canaan that are among the most difficult in the Old Testament and have been heavily discussed by theologians and historians. As the BIY Companion, Vol 1, comments:

According to Deuteronomy 20, people must always be permitted to surrender in war - except for the people of Canaan. The Canaanites live violent, wicked lives, including sacrificing their children to the god Molech. They have brought God's judgment upon themselves, which he will exact through Israel. God never commands us to do anything unjust; he cares for every individual. We can always trust that his judgments are right and just. (p. 144)

With modern sensibilities of rules in warfare, the complete destruction and extermination of an enemy is difficult to stomach. Things like child sacrifice make it somewhat understandable, for that is a demonic blight that has to be utterly eradicated whenever it arises, but in the end I leave it up to the wisdom God, who I don't presume to judge.

III. Psalm 99 is one of, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A psalm of praise extolling the Lord as a "Mighty King" (99:4) enthroned on Zion (99:2). Each of it stanzas concludes with a reference to his holiness (99:3, 5, 9). Biblical traditions about Moses, Aaron, and Samuel illustrate the power of intercessory prayer and reinforce the idea that God was a King, Lawgiver, and Guardian of justice in early biblical history, i.e., before Israel's monarchy was founded (99:6-7). (p. 915)

That's it for today!