Proverbs 28:17,  A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

Those who do not believe in capital punishment do not have the right view of God or man.

Those who do not believe in capital punishment believe that man is God and not the image of God as God's word says.

Genesis 9:6, says that,  Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

The image of God is what is at stake in this command.

God is concerned about his image and to attempt to destroy his image is an abomination to God Almighty.

Sanctity of life is not the issue here. The issue is the image of God.

A principle that we must always keep in mind in any issue is everything is to be centered on God.

How does this fit in God's plan? How does this show the glory of God?

God says that his image will not be defiled!

Man's responsibility is to project God's image clearly and precisely and any distortion of that image is not tolerated by God.

He desires that he be known clearly and that which he reveals of himself is to be perfectly revealed and not distorted.

He made man in his image and in so doing reveals himself to man.

And that image is not to be tampered with, without severe penalty.

Does not sin distort the image of God in man?

Fallen man does not present a clear and perfect image or view or revelation of God.

Are not the wages of sin the death penalty?

Sin distorts the image of God and death is the penalty for those who distort the image of God.

Therefore the command to Noah,  Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

All of us who reside upon this earth are to operate under this universal and perpetual law.

To ignore it brings the condemnation of Almighty God upon a society.

Numbers 35:33 is a principle of God that applies, not only to Israel but to all nations and all societies where murder takes place.

Our land is defiled by the blood of victims whose murderer's blood still warmly flows in their veins while their victims blood defiles the land.

God told his people Israel that there is to be no satisfaction for the life of a murderer.

As it says in Num 35:31: Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

No payoffs for murder, no plea bargains, no substitutes, no life sentences, no rehabilitation, no satisfaction.

I believe the same command applies to all nations and societies today.

Our land is defiled as God's word says because we allow murderers to live.

You see! God's image is at stake!

Genesis 1:26,  And God said, Let us make man in our image (a representative figure), after our likeness.

Human beings were created by God to fulfill a preordained role in His world.

He has a plan for his creation and he intends for that plan to be carried out using man as an extension of himself.

We are to be his hands, his feet, his mouth.

We are created in his image so that we may do his will and reveal him.

As a face is revealed in a mirror which is simply a image so we as the image of God are to reveal God.

Only beings that are created in his image can do that. Jesus Christ as the God/Man did it perfectly.

Humans have unique qualities that image the nature of God and set them apart and above all other created beings.

Humans are self-conscious, have a sovereign will, are entities with individual personalities, sets of values, inclinations, and responsibilities.

In other words, they are persons.

God made each of us, a person in the likeness of God's person.

Nothing else in all creation can be called a person.

Only persons encompass individuals who are body and spirit, who are rational, loving, responsible, moral creatures.

Only persons have self-awareness and God-awareness.

Every human being is an original. God is not in the copy business.

God in his infiniteness reveals himself in each unique human being and murder of any human being by another is a distortion of his image.

Each human being is to contribute to a clearer understanding of of God by being a clear image of God.

As God is spiritual (John 4:24), persons are spiritual.

This spiritual kinship makes possible communication with God through Jesus Christ.

Humans are moral creatures. They can and do make moral judgments.

They are choice makers. A human is the only creature who can say no to God.

God endowed them with the freedom to govern their own lives.

This makes fellowship possible with God.

Real fellowship can take place only between two authentic persons.

God created "man" in His own image to enjoy a relationship with another sovereign person.

God commands those who murder be put to death because of what God is, and not what man is.

Men's hands and feet are an extension of God's hand and feet.

To kill man is to stay God's hand, it is to stay God's feet from going in his stead. It is to distort his image.

In God's scheme of things we are to be about our Father's business and for one to interfere with that plan through murder is to interfere with God's will for his image.

God's word is so complete. He has instructions for all including those who doeth violence to the blood of any person, in other words those who murder.

He tells them to flee to the pit, to run to the grave.

Quickly yield to the punishment that God commands.

Do not fight the just result of your deed.

Murderer, you are to be your own murderer. 

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein!

Murderer, the right thing to do is to yield to God's will for your act. You are to flee to the pit!

And then this proverb gives a reasonable admonition to us.

We are told not help the murderer; we are told not support the murderer; we are told not to stop the murderer from his just penalty.

Christians are not to stand in the way of God's will in this matter and his will is for man to shed the blood of a murderer.

We are not to plead for him, we are not to solicit a pardon for him, we are not to demonstrate for him or to do anything to hinder his just punishment.

The land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

God's word is true!