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

Have you ever had blood on your hands? Even those amongst us who do not eat meat must have had blood on their hands at one stage or another, whether it was from a cut, an insect bite or the cleaning of a fish or animal about to be cooked. Ok so that is just blood on your hands, what about innocent blood?

The English word "innocent" originated from a compound Latin word, innocentis, which means no hurt, or not harmful. It is used to translate the Hebrew word, pronounced naw-kee, which means clean, as in without blame.

“Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen." Deuteronomy 27:25 KJV

David in 1 Samuel chapter 21 and 22 had innocent blood on his hands, the deaths not only of the priests but the entire village of Nob, slain by Doeg the Edomite, because he forgot who God was and is able to do.

The bible commentator Matthew Henry says of this event.

David, in distress, fled to the tabernacle of God. It is great comfort in a day of trouble, that we have a God to go to, to whom we may open our cases, and from whom we may ask and expect direction. David told Ahimelech a gross untruth. What shall we say to this? The Scripture does not conceal it, and we dare not justify it; it was ill done, and proved of bad consequence; for it occasioned the death of the priests of the Lord. David thought upon it afterward with regret. David had great faith and courage, yet both failed him; he fell thus foully through fear and cowardice, and owing to the weakness of his faith. Had he trusted God aright, he would not have used such a sorry, sinful shift for his own preservation. It is written, not for us to do the like, no, not in the greatest straits, but for our warning.

Do we sometimes ask the Lord for something and ignore the answer if it is ‘No’ when it comes?

We must never forget that sin has its roots in our past. Psalm 51:5 NKJV reads,

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Romans 3:23 NKJV

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

Although we might ourselves have innocent blood on our hands, remember Jesus has already paid the price with His blood and is just waiting for us to come to him. I pray that is our desire today.