What does "take him from My altar" reveal about justice and sanctuary? Setting the Scene: Exodus 21:14 “But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, you are to take him from My altar to be put to death.” What Altars Signified in Israel • Place of sacrifice and worship • Symbol of God’s presence among His people (Exodus 20:24) • Occasional place of temporary refuge—as when someone clung to the horns seeking mercy (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28) Why Someone Might Flee to the Altar • Ancient Near Eastern custom: sacred space could delay immediate retaliation • Allowed time for facts to surface, preventing rash blood-feuds • Hinted at mercy available through atonement Justice Overrides Misused Sanctuary • Premeditated murder forfeits every claim to refuge • “Take him” shows active removal—no sacred object can shield willful sin • Justice is God-ordered, not humanly optional (Genesis 9:6; Numbers 35:30-31) • Failure to punish defiles the land and desecrates worship (Numbers 35:33-34) Sanctuary Still Stands for the Innocent • Cities of refuge (Numbers 35:11-15; Deuteronomy 19:4-6) protected the unintentional killer • Protection lasted until due trial, guarding both life and due process • The altar’s exception clause confirms that sanctuary was never a loophole for evil Lessons for Today • God unites mercy and justice; neither cancels the other • Sacred things lose power when used to cloak sin (Isaiah 1:11-17) • True worshiper submits to God’s righteous standards, even when they indict him Christ, the Fulfillment of Sanctuary and Justice • In Jesus, justice for sin is satisfied (Romans 3:25-26) • In Jesus, believers find lasting refuge (Hebrews 6:18-20) • The cross proves that sin must be judged; grace is offered, never cheapened Takeaway “Take him from My altar” underscores that God’s sanctuary protects the repentant and the innocent, not the defiant sinner. Justice is safeguarded, mercy is upheld, and both meet perfectly in the redemptive plan revealed throughout Scripture. |
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