Proverb 6:16-19 - Hands That Shed Innocent Blood

16These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
-Proverbs 6:16-19

Hands that shed innocent blood is something that we may not think is very prevalent in our culture. Unfortunately, it is abundant. We see blood shed of the utmost innocent through things like abortion. It is hated by the Lord and seen as an abomination. We see just how much the Lord hates such matters when we see examples in Scripture of those who shed innocent blood. Take for example Manasseh.

16 Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
-2 Kings 21:16

Judgment and calamity was brought upon the nation due to this fact. Whereas Hezekiah tore down the idols and high places, Manasseh rebuilt it. He led the people down a path where idolatry was all the more present. Even though Manasseh did end up repenting and turning from his wicked ways, the choices he still made had severe consequences. The people continued in their idolatry and did evil in the sight of the Lord. The innocent blood that was spilled remained spilled and those lives lost. Judgment still persisted toward the nation.

So let us then pray for our own nation and plead with the Lord that maybe even this people may be saved. Though consequences persist, the blood of Jesus is sufficient to cleanse us of our sin, even such sin as this.