What does "shed innocent blood" in Psalm 106:38 reveal about God's justice? Setting of Psalm 106:38 - Psalm 106 recounts Israel’s history of covenant unfaithfulness, highlighting particular sins that provoked God to judgment. - Verse 38 pinpoints the darkest violation: “They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; so the land was polluted with blood.” What “shed innocent blood” Means - “Innocent” (Hebrew nāqî) describes those free of wrongdoing; infants offered to idols are the clearest possible example. - “Shed” underscores deliberate, violent action—premeditated destruction of life. - The phrase signals moral outrage: a direct assault on the Creator’s image-bearers (cf. Genesis 9:6). What This Reveals about God’s Justice God’s justice is … • Uncompromising in valuing human life – Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in His own image God has made mankind.” – Proverbs 6:16-17 lists “hands that shed innocent blood” among the seven abominations God hates. – Justice demands that life taken without cause be answered for; God never treats murder lightly. • Protective of the vulnerable – Deuteronomy 10:18 portrays God as defending the orphan and widow. Infants offered to idols epitomize vulnerability; divine justice moves swiftly in their defense. • Impartial and corporate – Psalm 106:40-41: “So the LORD’s anger burned against His people, and He abhorred His own inheritance. He delivered them into the hand of the nations.” Corporate guilt brings corporate consequences; justice extends beyond individuals to the community that tolerates evil. • Responsive to moral pollution – “So the land was polluted with blood.” Innocent blood defiles the very ground (Numbers 35:33-34). God’s justice aims to cleanse creation, not merely punish offenders. • Consistent across covenants – Jeremiah 7:30-34 echoes the same judgment on child sacrifice centuries later. – Revelation 19:2 rejoices that God “has avenged the blood of His servants.” From Genesis to Revelation, God’s justice pursues spilled blood until it is answered. How God Executes Justice in Psalm 106 - Withdrawal of protection: verse 41, God hands Israel over to enemy oppression. - Discipline with the goal of repentance: verses 43-45 show God remembering His covenant and relenting when His people cry out. Justice and mercy work together; punishment aims at restoration, not annihilation. New-Covenant Fulfillment - At the cross, God’s justice toward innocent blood reaches its climax. Jesus, “the Holy and Righteous One” (Acts 3:14), sheds His own innocent blood, satisfying justice so mercy can flow to the guilty (Romans 3:25-26). - Hebrews 12:24 contrasts the blood of Abel, crying out for judgment, with Jesus’ blood, speaking “a better word”—justice fully met, forgiveness now available. Key Takeaways - God’s justice cherishes every human life; the shedding of innocent blood inevitably calls forth His wrath. - He acts to defend victims, cleanse defiled places, and restore moral order. - Justice is never sidelined by mercy; it is fulfilled in Christ, ensuring that God “might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). |
    |