Today as I read in Deuteronomy, the phrase “shall not pity him” stuck out. First, in Deuteronomy 19:13, Israel is told not to pity one who has laid in wait to commit murder. They are to deliver the guilty to remove innocent blood from Israel.
Next, in Deuteronomy 19:21, we again find the phrase, shall not pity. In this case, the children of Israel are told how to deal with a false witness. When someone is found to be a false witness, they are to deliver the penalty upon the witness which was pronounced against the accused, without pity.
In our society today, we always hear how we are to forgive and forget. We feel ashamed if we allow someone to suffer the consequences for their actions. We feel we should always be merciful and forgiving. Those in the world speak against us if we do not always show pity, allowing continual perpetrators of evil to go free. Yet, we need to understand that we have biblical examples of God commanding those who commit sin or evil, that they suffer the consequences of their actions.
Isn’t this what will happen in the book of Revelation at the Great White Throne judgment? Won’t the day of grace be over at that time? People will suffer the consequences of their actions. Maybe, if people would be able to experience suffering because of their decisions today, they would cease committing them.
Yes, I am thankful for God’s mercy. I do understand the need to be merciful as a Christian. However, we do need to recognize, mercy will not always rule the day. One day, maybe today, justice will be enacted. We also must remember mercy is never extended without justice being satisfied. God is merciful. God is just. He is equally both. Do not forget this.
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