““Whoever sheds human blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made mankind.” Genesis 9:6 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/gen.9.6.NASB2020
Justice
Brothers, on this 2nd anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel my heart is heavy for that event and all of the unjust lawlessness in our communities today. Meditating on Gen. 9:6, Ex. 20:13, and Num. 35. I am crying out to God for justice! I’m praying we stand bold for the atoning justice to heal our land even while praying for the salvation of those that need to be facing the death penalty. “…no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.” Numbers 35:33
Maybe soft on crime injustice is sending the wrong message? “young people in Peoria…involved in violent crimes…six juveniles are currently facing …(RICO) charges for at least three murders and 12 shootings” https://x.com/mickdobra/status/1953935668242968892?s=46&t=Ag2lESY3ntUopWo1gN17hwi
“Peoria Police responded to calls about gunshots at a house on North Sheridan Road… Teen, man killed 15-year-old, hid him in carpet” Prosecutors: Teen, man killed 15-year-old, hid him in carpet
“The city of Peoria has seen an increase in shootings, specifically targeted attacks, according to Chief of Police Eric Echevarria.” Peoria experiencing increase in targeted shootings, Police Chief says | CIProud.com
“Father of 22-year-old woman who was brutally killed by a career criminal, absolutely unleashes during a House hearing against soft-on-crime policies. “[He] dragged her out of bed naked, forced on her knees with her hands over her head … BANG! Dead. Gone.” “Why? Because Alexander Davante Dickey, who was arrested 39 godd*mn times, 25 felonies, was on the street…” https://x.com/collinrugg/status/1972716966831120601?s=46&t=Ag2lESY3ntUopWo1gN17hw
“A grieving grandmother calls out D.C.’s unjust sentencing policies.” “He shot my grandson in cold blood SEVEN TIMES. And they didn’t consider that as first-degree murder? “The bottom line is that murder in D.C. is treated as a joke when it comes time to justice.” https://x.com/senjudiciarygop/status/1973029612319035852?s=46&t=Ag2lESY3ntUopWo1gN17hw
“A man who broke into a house and stabbed a child to death is now walking free. One of the most heinous miscarriages of justice in American history” https://x.com/mattwalshblog/status/1974176800960893033?s=46&t=Ag2lESY3ntUopWo1gN17hw
“The lesson to be learned here is that the state will inevitably fall into unlawful and ungodly rulings if the voice of God’s people is kept silent.” A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13 https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/
““You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/exo.20.13.NASB2020
““Whoever sheds human blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made mankind.” Genesis 9:6 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/gen.9.6.NASB2020
“‘… the murderer must be put to death.” Numbers 35:16 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/num.35.16.NASB2020
“…no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.” Numbers 35:33 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/num.35.33.NASB2020
“for [the civil authority] is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” Romans 13:4 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/rom.13.4.NASB2020
“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” Proverbs 17:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.17.15.ESV
“It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.” Proverbs 18:5 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.18.5.ESV
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.21.3.ESV
“When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” Proverbs 21:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.21.15.ESV
“You shall not distort justice, you shall not show partiality; and you shall not accept a bribe, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 16:19-20 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/deu.16.19-20.NASB2020
“Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.” Proverbs 24:24-25 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.24.24-25.ESV
“Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.” Proverbs 25:26 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.25.26.ESV
“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves. Proverbs 28:5, 12, 18 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.28.5-18.ESV
“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.29.2.ESV
“A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.” Proverbs 29:7 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.29.7.ESV
“When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall.” Proverbs 29:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.29.16.ESV
“‘You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.” Leviticus 19:15 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/lev.19.15.LSB
“The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, And His soul hates one who loves violence. He will rain coals of fire upon the wicked, And brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will see His face.” Psalm 11:5-7 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/psa.11.5-7.NASB2020
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
Dobra Family Ministry 