ADULT STS LESSON 144 SANCTITY OF LIFE AND FAMILY VALUES
MEMORY VERSE: “So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 21:9).
TEXT: Deuteronomy 21:1-23; 22:1-30
In our text, God gave the children of Israel the guidelines for performing the rite to absolve themselves of blood guiltiness in the case of murder committed by an unknown murderer. On such occasions, or where the cause of death is unknown, the elders of the city near the corpse are required to take an heifer, “which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke” and bring it down to a rough valley that is not used for agricultural purposes and strike off the heifer’s neck (Deuteronomy 21:1,3). To prove their innocence, the elders of the city nearest to the slain man would then “…wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it” (Deuteronomy 21:6,7). The reason for this elaborate procedure was for the whole community to feel a keen sense of the sanctity of life and the seriousness of taking someone’s life.
It was to move them to correct situations that were potentially harmful, either physically, socially or morally, and to make them security-conscious. As God is concerned about the sanctity of life, He is also concerned about family values. A family is a social unit living together and comprising parents and their children. The family is an institution meant for societal cohesion and continuity built on values prescribed by God. Therefore, the sanctity of life and family values must be held in high esteem. Of Abraham and his family, God said, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment…” (Genesis 18:19).
SANCTITY OF THE HUMAN LIFE (Deuteronomy 21:1- 9: 22:8; Genesis 9:5,6; Jeremiah 7:6,7; Deuteronomy 19:9,10; Numbers 35:33)
Life is a sacred gift which God has given to every human as a right. Therefore, no one is permitted to deprive others of this sacred right. In the text, God instructed the Israelites that if a corpse was found in the land of their possession by an unknown murderer, the elders must seek the Lord’s forgiveness after a thorough investigation by the priest. The requirements for the cleansing of the community were symbolic. A heifer, which must be full grown, strong and ceremonially undefiled by human use, representing the murderer, was to die in his stead since he could not be found. The elders were to wash their hands over the heifer that was beheaded in the valley to declare their innocence.
By this divine directive, the Lord pointed to them the sanctity of human life and the consequence of shedding innocent blood. He said that He will demand the blood or life of anyone that was taken unjustly from the murderer (Genesis 9:5). As New Testament believers, we should feel concerned when evil of any kind is committed against the innocent in our community; we should mourn, express sympathy or compassion and pray for the land to be delivered from evil. When we condemn crimes committed against innocent people and expose criminals, it shows our true sense of patriotism.
These come with benefits such as minimised criminal offences and law-breaking, safer communities for all to live in; prosperity of the gospel work and honour from the Lord. We therefore, have a collective responsibility to protect lives and properties in our communities. Besides, Christians should avoid induced abortion, termination of unwanted pregnancy’, suicide, and so-called ‘mercy killing. It is an abomination for anyone to terminate unjustly a life he or she cannot create. A swift and just judgment of God awaits such offenders if they fail to repent of their wickedness (Deuteronomy 19:9).
SACREDNESS OF THE CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE (Deuteronomy 21:10-17; 22:13-30; Genesis 2:23-25; Proverbs 18:22; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19:3-6; Mark 10:4-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14,15; 1 Corinthians 7:2)
The text specifies certain marital dispositions, which were permitted among the ancient Jews because of their situation and the peculiar circumstances under which they fought to possess the promised land. For example, soldiers were permitted to marry captive women taken from the battle field, and to allow them depart if they were not satisfied with the relationship. However, such women were to be treated in a certain way to preserve their honour and dignity (Deuteronomy 21:10-17). But the same is not applicable in the present age and circumstance, and no one should use it as a pretext to pervert the sacred institution of marriage, which was designed by God to promote, practise and preserve genuine love, unity, affection and intimacy (Hebrews 13:4).
Marriage is a divine and honourable institution. It is the state of being voluntarily joined for life (or until death) of two people who are married to each other in a close and intimate union. The uniform teaching of the Bible on acceptable and approved marriage is monogamy (one man, one wife). All other perversions such as polygamy (one man, many wives), polyandry (one woman, many husbands) and same-sex marriages are against God’s standard on marriage. “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female” (Matthew 19:4). Any deviation from the standard of God can lead to numerous social problems and judgment of God. Divorce and remarriage is a great deviation from God’s will. Divorcement in the Law of Moses was not the perfect will of God but a permission due to the hardness of their hearts (Matthew 19:8). Marriage is for life and divorce is against the will of God; only death can separate the husband and wife. This is God’s standard on marriage for New Testament Christians. Marriage is for purity, procreation, partnership, pleasure, provision and protection. But it is not permitted between close relations (Deuteronomy 22:30; Leviticus 18:6-18; Mark 6:18,19).
Believers intending to marry should pray to God for direction because they must not be unequally yoked together with unbelieving partners in marriage (2 Corinthians 6:14,15). Deception between family members should be avoided (Malachi 2:14,15; Deuteronomy 22:13-19). When a proper marriage is contracted, purity must be maintained in the family. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). Chastity and purity before and in marriage are precious virtues in God’s sight. It was a requirement in Israel that a girl be found undefiled at marriage, otherwise, it would cause shame to her family and it carried death penalty. This informs why Joseph sought to put Mary away secretly when he suspected her of infidelity. However, he did not want her to suffer publicly for marital unfaithfulness (Matthew 1:19).
“Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her; And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid [virgin]; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city” (Deuteronomy 22:15-17). Christian parents are expected to bring up their children in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 11:19-21). They are to make every effort to protect them against promiscuity and premarital sex. They must teach them God’s principles of purity and guide them into a life of chastity, obedience, submission, honesty, faithfulness, sincerity and truth. There should be love and care between husband and wife, parents and children and among siblings.
Going further, God instructed every parent in Israel on the right of the first born: “If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is hig” (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). This shows that God is a God of justice who will always demand that the right of every person be given to them.
Believers should follow the footsteps of the Lord in this world full of injustice, and where our rights are denied, we should not be violent when seeking redress. God is the defender of the oppressed, defenceless and less-privileged people and He will ensure that we are recompensed at the right time. Masters should learn to be just and fair in their dealings with their servants and employees (Ephesians 6:9). Ministers of the gospel too should relate with every member of the church in the fear of God.
SUNDRY EXHORTATIONS ON FAMILY VALUES (Deuteronomy 21:18-23; 22:1-12; Genesis 18:19; 35:2; Deuteronomy 4:9,10; Psalm 78:4-7; 1 Kings 2:1-4; Ephesians 6:1-4)
Societies suffer because many children have been left to themselves by parents, guardians, learning institutions and the government until they grow up to become a problem to the nation. In the Old Testament, such children were to be brought before the elders of the city and be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 21:18- 23). In this age, this manner of treatment is not applicable, but every parent and the entire body of Christ must rise up to the challenge of child training and proper upbringing of the children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The gospel is what the world needs to sanitise the society. God will not hold us guiltless if we fail to preach the gospel and by so doing, show this generation the sanctity of marriage and godly child upbringing.
Fathers are instructed in the New Testament not to provoke their children to wrath but to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). The present and future safety of our children and the society depend on our commitment to the preaching of the gospel. The Lord places great premium on family cohesion, love, child training and spiritually balanced teaching in the word of God that result in proper parental control of family members, especially for the children. This helps them to live a God-fearing life (Proverbs 22:6).
God does not discriminate among His children; hence, believers should not have gender discrimination in the distribution of resources in the family (Numbers 27:1,2,6,7). Parents should instruct their children in what constitutes proper, scriptural dressing as well as pray for and preach repentance to the family to bring restoration to erring ones. By observing these rules, there will be peace and harmony in the family, church and society.
Questions for review:
1. What do we learn from the way God held a whole community responsible for the victim of murder?
2. Why should a heifer be killed to pacify the blood of the murdered person in the Old Testament?
3. What should be the attitude of believers when evil is perpetrated in the land?
4. What are God’s demands on Christian marriage?
5. In the New Testament, what are the scriptural standards required of believers concerning marriage?
6. When our rights are denied, how should we seek redress?
7. What is the responsibility of parents toward their children?
