PURGE

I am Deuteronomy in my QT right now and this morning I’m reading Chs. 19-21. The text is talking about the law of God, governing laws for the cities as well as behavioral law. A certain phrase just jumped off the page at me. It is a condemning phrase of ‘you must purge’, and ‘show no pity’. When a man intentionally kills another “show him no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood”.
If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, and is caught lying “then do to him as we was intending to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you… show no pity”.
If your son is rebellious and does not obey when disciplined by his parents…take him to the priests and "all the men will stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you."
In this sense the word purge is defined as the verb to wash out, rid, cleanse and eliminate. The people of Israel lived under the laws of God and were instructed and expected to live under those laws.
Another definition of PURGE is to pardon, exonerate, and forgive. An example of this type of purge would be for a convicted criminals’ record to be pardoned: to free someone from blame or guilt to declare officially that somebody is not to blame or is not guilty of wrongdoing; to relieve somebody from an obligation or responsibility.

One word. Such diverse consequences yet both with the same end result: to make clean and pure. I am so glad I live under the grace of God’s mercy. See before I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, I personally would have to live under the law - the first example of purge. I would be found guilty and have to take the punishment of breaking the law and would receive 'no pity'.

In 2004 I placed my faith and trust in Jesus, he who knew no sin – yet bore all my sin and took my punishment under the law. He received 'no pity' in place of me. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, my previously guilty record – past –present- and future is purged – the second type of example. I have been found free of guilt or blame.
I am so thankful for the mercy of God.
Titus 3:4-6 (NIV) 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.