"You shall not murder." Exodus 20.13
After honoring parents God's next commandment is not to murder. God doesn't say not to kill, but not to murder. There is a difference. Murder is something that is premeditated, and done with malice. It is an act done for the simple purpose of ending someone's life over some difference or disagreement. Murder is killing, but killing isn't always murder.
Israel just went through a battle, and in that battle, in order to win, they had to kill the enemy. God does not like when humans end the life of another human, but He knows that the world is fallen and sinful. He knows wars will happen. In the not too distant future God will even order Israel to completely destroy the other nations in the Promised Land. God says you shall not murder.
Men, life is a sacred and precious thing. God wants us to guard it, protect it, and preserve it. He does not want us to plan on ending the life of another human. He does not want us, driven by anger and hatred, to take revenge and carry out judgment on other people. But again, His commandment is not to murder.
If someone breaks into my house at night I will be firing my 12 gauge at them, aiming to kill. I have a family to protect, and I will do what I have to in order to keep them safe. That is not murder, that is survival, and defending my family. But I will not sit and plot revenge on the someone who has wronged me, and then go carry it out, that is murder.
Let us guard life, let us deal with those who have wronged us calmly and rationally. Let us not act in anger or hatred to take the life of another; we'll see when we get to Jesus' teachings how these two coincide. We shall not murder.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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