Samuel 12:1-7 "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 4 "Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him." 5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." 7 Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!

Much is made of Jesus being the "Son of David." What can we conclude from David, a man after God's own heart, emphatically declaring the one who ate the sheep "deserves to die!" The KJV says, "As the LORD liveth the man that hath done this thing shall surely die."

Can we concede Nathan's case rests entirely upon the bond between the little lamb and its owner, emphasized by David's reaction which seems to reach beyond economics? Didn't David empathize with the love the poor man had for his pet lamb? If so...

Can we toss this ballot cast by David, Nathan and possibly God in the hat marked, "Better not to kill lambs," and by extension cows and pigs? And if it's good, according to Nathan and David and by extension God, to spare animals who are loved, is the penalty for never knowing love - death?

Do you love Aaron more than God loves Aaron? Did the poor man love the little lamb more than God loved the little lamb? Does God love all little lambs? Whether or not he punishes us, is it possible it hurts God when little lambs are slain in their meekness? And by extension, pigs and cows?

Is Job 38:39-40:30 informative on this question?
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If we eat animals without need, it is for taste. And is not slaughter for tastebuds immoral?...

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And God slew those lusting for meat instead of bread and the peace of God. (Psalm 78:18, Rom 9:11-13) Are your tastebuds bigger than your heart?