TODAY’S MANNA THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018. TOPIC: PURE JUSTICE

TODAY’S MANNA

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

TOPIC: PURE JUSTICE
TEXT: EXODUS 21:12-25
1) THE KEY VERSE: 
“But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die” (Exodus 21:14).
2) THE TEXT:

(EXODUS 21: 12 – 25 KJV) 
“12. He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
13. And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
14. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
15. And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
16. And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
17. And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.(Ex 20:12; Lev 20:9; Dt 5:16; 27:16; Prov. 30:17; Mt. 15:4; Mark 7:10)
18. And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
19. If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
20. And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
21. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
22. If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
24. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, (Mt. 5:38)
25. Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
3) THE MESSAGE:
i) Since the 15th century, the statue of Lady Justice has been depicted in courts all over the world wearing a blindfold. One may wonder, ‘why the blindfold?’ It represents objectivity in meting out justice, without fear or favour, regardless of identity, money, power or weakness.
ii) In our text, Moses was handed the Ten Commandments, with detailed instructions on punishment for offenders. 

a) Murderers are to be executed, except in cases of manslaughter without premeditation, where the accused is permitted to seek refuge from the avenger of blood in the city of refuge.

b) The law prescribed the principle of retribution for injuries caused to others. 
iii) These laws are put in place as deterrents and warnings to would-be offenders that justice will be meted out without fear or favour. 
iv) Mercy and truth must go together in a just society. Moses was commanded to ensure that credible judges were appointed to enforce these laws. 
v) The appointed judges must be people of high integrity, not accused of taking bribes to miscarry justice. 
vi) The present-day laws are sourced primarily from the Law of Moses. Murder is still punishable by death in many countries, except in nations where life imprisonment for such offenders is prescribe. 
vii) Despite the increase of judges and creation of the International Criminal Court, some rich and well-connected offenders evade justice due to the loopholes in the system. 
viii) No matter how laws are enforced, a day is coming when God shall judge the world in righteousness.
ix) In the light of this, we should ensure we live right and avoid anything that will condemn us before God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: 
Judges give judgments, but God gives justice.
BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: 
2 KINGS 12-13; 

2 CHRONICLES 24
Good morning😁😁😁