Sanctity of Life [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 19:1–22:12]

How must Israel apply the sixth commandment to their life in the land? Deuteronomy 19:1–22:12 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seventy-six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Israel were to honor God’s holiness by treating His image in man as sacred. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: This devotional presents a comprehensive legal and ethical framework centered on the sanctity of human life, rooted in the Sixth Commandment’s prohibition of murder. It establishes systems of justice that distinguish between intentional murder, accidental manslaughter, and just war, emphasizing divine protection for the innocent through cities of refuge, impartial judicial procedures, and the condemnation of false testimony. The text underscores corporate responsibility for bloodshed, illustrated by the ritual of the heifer in a valley of flowing water, and enforces equitable justice through proportional penalties and safeguards against abuse. It also extends the principle of life’s value to include care for property, the environment, and vulnerable individuals—such as widows and orphans—while regulating warfare, inheritance, and holiness codes to preserve Israel’s distinct identity as a people set apart for God. Ultimately, the law reflects God’s holiness and the sacredness of human life, pointing forward to Christ, who alone fully embodies the divine regard for humanity and bears the curse of sin on behalf of His people.