If you rewind the clock a hundred or so years, you would end up in a very different version of America than you have today.
I don’t say that to make any grand political statement—any civilization is different now than it was a century earlier. But I do think the justice system is one area where you can see a very obvious difference.
For example, public executions were a regular occurrence. As late as 1936, the general public could attend the hanging of a known criminal, with the goal of deterring future criminals from following the same path.
Now, in states where it’s legal, executions are carried out behind closed doors. Only a few people are invited in to watch it take place (usually the victim’s family); when it’s over, news stations will report it as part of their nightly lineup.
I want to be clear: I’m not arguing that we should reinstate public executions. That’s not my place. But I do think that because we hide the punishment, it can soften our own attitude towards the crime.
Deuteronomy 19:11-13 states that a man who is tried and convicted of murder should be executed by the blood avenger.
Then, it gives an interesting warning: You “shall not pity [the murderer], but you shall purge the blood of the innocent from Israel.”
Why would anyone pity a murderer?
Emotionally speaking, it may be that the people feel that the punishment is too harsh. Or that the manslayer is too young, too vital to a family unit, or too respected in the community. Maybe they don’t like the blood-avenger and feel like they would rather have the manslayer released instead (think Barabbas in the New Testament).
Or it could be financially motivated. Some might argue that a fine would suffice for the crimes, or forced labor in a prison sentence. A judge might receive a bribe in exchange for “not finding any evidence” to the intent of the killing. Another may fear escalating retribution from the victim’s families.
There are literally hundreds of reasons why someone would try to avoid an execution, even in the case of clear guilt, but Moses is firm: The murderer must be put to death.
This does not mean that we shouldn’t feel any kind of remorse or sadness at the execution. Most of us see the sadness in any loss of life for any reason.
But we can’t allow our emotions to override justice. When that happens, criminals are left unchecked.