Topical Bible: Murder: God: Will Avenge

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Murder, the unlawful and premeditated taking of a human life, is a grievous sin that is explicitly condemned throughout the Bible. The act of murder is not only a violation of God's commandments but also an affront to the sanctity of life, which is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The Bible consistently affirms that God, as the righteous judge, will avenge the shedding of innocent blood.

Divine Justice and Vengeance

The principle of divine justice is central to the biblical understanding of murder. God declares His intention to avenge the blood of the innocent, underscoring His role as the ultimate arbiter of justice. In Genesis 9:6, God establishes the gravity of murder: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind." This passage highlights the divine mandate for justice, reflecting God's commitment to uphold the sanctity of life.

God's Prohibition and Promise of Vengeance

The Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, include the explicit prohibition against murder: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). This commandment underscores the seriousness with which God views the taking of human life. Furthermore, God promises to avenge those who have been wronged by murder. In Deuteronomy 32:35, God declares, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay." This assurance of divine retribution serves as a warning to those who commit murder and a comfort to those who seek justice.

The Role of Human Authorities

While God is the ultimate avenger of murder, He has also instituted human authorities to carry out justice on earth. Romans 13:4 states, "For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." This passage affirms that God uses human institutions to execute His justice, including the punishment of murderers.

The Cry of Innocent Blood

The Bible vividly portrays the cry of innocent blood reaching God's ears, demanding justice. In Genesis 4:10, after Cain murders Abel, God confronts Cain, saying, "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground." This imagery emphasizes God's awareness of every act of murder and His commitment to address it.

God's Avenging Nature in the Psalms and Prophets

The Psalms and prophetic writings further illustrate God's role as avenger. Psalm 9:12 declares, "For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted." Similarly, in Nahum 1:2, the prophet affirms, "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries and reserves wrath for His enemies." These passages reinforce the certainty of divine retribution against those who commit murder.

The Final Judgment

The ultimate expression of God's vengeance against murder will be realized in the final judgment. Revelation 21:8 warns, "But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death." This eschatological perspective assures that God's justice will be fully executed, and murderers will face eternal consequences.

In summary, the Bible presents a consistent message that God will avenge murder. Through divine justice, human authorities, and the final judgment, God ensures that the sanctity of life is upheld and that those who shed innocent blood are held accountable.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 32:43
Rejoice, O you nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful to his land, and to his people.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 21:19
And you shall speak to him, saying, Thus said the LORD, Have you killed, and also taken possession? And you shall speak to him, saying, Thus said the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even yours.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 1:4
And the LORD said to him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Obedience
... it; but, because his aims were not good (for he aimed at settling himself in the
kingdom), God looked upon it as no better than murder. I will avenge the blood ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 1 obedience.htm

The Old and New Testaments have Many Things in Common -- Far More ...
... murder, there and then in question, the murder of the ... Because they have rejected
the Christ of God, a judicial ... accept the Christ of humanity, who will be Satan ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the old and new testaments.htm

Capital Punishment
... in the name of God, the man who, by murder, outrages the likeness of God in himself
and ... about capital punishment; that there are those who will move heaven ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon vi capital punishment.htm

Exile: Appeals for a Phinehas, and a Jehu: 1554
... Lord had given no word of warrant to murder or massacre ... him, "Yet a little while,
and I will avenge the blood ... to be communicated to the Vicar of God, who should ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter v exile appeals for.htm

Ahab and Naboth
... of man, and that God will uphold and avenge the man's ... murder, he made himself partaker
in that murder, and had to ... God will surely lay the burden on the man who ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xi ahab and naboth.htm

How David, when He had Twice the Opportunity of Killing Saul did ...
... By these, therefore it will be well for thee to believe ... how to compass my life and
to murder me, which ... thou escape the crime of impiety towards God, when thou ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how david when.htm

David's Deserts
... taken in vain to find a pretext for a political murder. ... vanity of vanities: that
man is nothing, and God is all ... And above all, will men to the end be tempted ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon iv davids deserts.htm

Obadiah
... and spiteful queen, who certainly would murder him, if ... measure you have measured
to others, God will measure to ... unjust judge says: And shall not God (the just ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon ix obadiah.htm

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... sacred unity was violated against the will of God, while, at the same time, with
his will the ten ... the murder of the sons of Ahab, and the extermination of ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm

Fifth Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to the Fruits of Faith.
... own theft, your contempt of God, disobedience, murder, and so ... True, God would have
all men to be merciful and ... for the punishment of the wicked, will not always ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/fifth sunday after trinity exhortation.htm