Is this of God

"Thou shalt not kill." Exodus 20:13

...I can however understand.

 

But God did tell His people to kill on ocassions, even nursing babies 1Sam 15:3-4.

Your question first begs of "why" was this so ordered? Rebellion against God?

Again, "Thou shalt not (murder) kill." Exodus 20:13

Well then..., what about war? Different animal.
What about self-defense? Different animal.

This man clearly committed "murder" as per mans law! The courts have considered the "intent" behind what he did and have decided his devotion to be the motivator.

I don't believe I could have done as he did and hope the occasion never arises.

 

Judith, IMO, there's a difference between kill and murder. Many times in biblical history God called forth armies of both Godly and evil men to kill. To punish others for disobedience. God has also striken down individuals, as well. Killed them. God, our Creator's decision.

When an individual human being deliberately decides to end the life of another, it is murder. Whether the life taken is only a few cell divisions from conception or a short period of time before God calls him or her home.

Thou shalt not murder. IMO, it's as if God used these words. Thou shalt not choose to take a life that I have created. That is MY decision alone.

In closing, we have a merciful Saviour. When this elderly man stands before Jesus, He knows what was in his heart before and after the death of his wife. If mercy is due, there's no doubt, IMO, this man will receive it. If mercy isn't due, he will receive full punishment for murder of another human being.

 

Was it "of God"....no. The man ran afoul of both God's law, and against man's law which, in this case, is correctly illegal. Do I understand it? Yes.

The judge did the right thing. You can't "aquit", he's guilty. But neither is their any punishment you can level on the man which will effect him in any way. Do I think he would CARE if he got prison time? No. the prosecutor didn't ask for it either; for a good reason.

Scarlett put it right:

The poor man will be dead before his probation is over.

 

Modern medical science keeps people alive long after they would have died from diseases & natural causes. There are times when the compassionate decision is not to extend a person's life just so that they can continue to experience excruciating pain for weeks, months, or even years longer. My father died from multiple myeloma cancer. More than once, he begged me to end his life. This experience has changed my perspective on this issue. If a person would have already died from an excruciatingly painful disease, then it is not murder to allow or help them to die by their request. After this experience in the harsh reality of life, my wife & I wrote up dnr's & powers of attorney in order to ensure that we never have to live through the hell that took my father's life.

It's awfully easy to judge others who have had to make such life-altering decisions that we have never had to face. Discernment in this area requires a level of understanding which cannot be obtained from a pew.

 

... or from the pulpit of a man who has never been there.

Good post.

 

:thumbs::thumbs:

 

Michael, I'm sorry you lost your father in this manner. I do have some understanding of what you went through, as I lost my mother from breast cancer. Returned 12 years after she had her second mastomeny (sp). She spent the last two months of her life in the hospital almost completely paralized. She could only move one leg. She could talk and swallow, but couldn't chew. Her funeral was at 10:00 am, Christmas Eve.

Not long ago lost my sister-in-law to ovarian cancer. I will have a DNR for myself. Doctors put her on life support for a week before finally letting her go. When she went into the hospital with pneumonia she knew she wouldn't be coming home. I can't describe what it was like to watch that machine breathe for her as her kidney's shut down.

Even after going through that, I still believe that when God created those two lives, they were His alone to take. There's no way for us to know His purposes for those lives or ours, even in the end. IMO, there's no way to separate their pain from our own in these circumstances. To know, with absolute certainty that ending their lives prematurely isn't also being done to end our pain, as well.

Thinking back to those days, this Resurrection Sunday morning. Remembering a blessing. A year after I lost my Mom, God called my Dad home swiftly. His life ended in just a few moments, at most, when he had a massive heart attack.

 

No, that was not God, but flesh.

 

I'm sorry for your losses.

 

Is it not true that we use medical advances to extend lives beyond the time when they would have otherwise died? If it is wrong to end a life that would have already died, then is it not wrong to extend that same life beyond its natural end? I must examine both sides of that ethical coin.

I am not of the opinion that every person has an "appointment" with death by God's decree. The time of our death is effected by many variables & choices.