“THE CITIES OF RERFUGE” (Josh 20:1-6)
Jan 15th, 2012
Sunday Evening
Int. In this passage se are furnished with a condensed account of the laws with
regard to murder which the Lord gave to Israel for the maintenance of
righteousness in their midst.
1. On one hand there was a strict enforcement of Justice; on the other, the
exercising of Mercy.
a. When the children of Israel were settled in the land of Canaan, God ordained
that six cities of refuge be set aside, to which a man might flee for security,
if he had unintentionally killed another man.
1. We are told in God's Word that the roads to the City of Refuge were strictly
preserved, every river was bridged. and every obstruction removed, so that the
man who fled from the avenger of blood might find an easy passage to the city.
b. These cities of refuge were located strategically throughout the land, so
that any one of them could be easily reached within a day's journey from any
place in the land of Canaan.
1. Kadish--Holy Place or Holiness..A refuge for the Unclean.
2. Shechem--Shoulder...a refuge for the weary.
3. Hebron...Fellowship..joined to Fellowship..a refuge for the homeless.
4. Bezer...Stronghold...fortified..a Refuge for the helpless.
5. Ramoth...Exalted...A refuge for the hopeless.
6. Golan...Exiled or separated...A Refuge for the Tempted or tried.
2. The guilty must not be cleared and the innocent must not be executed.
a. These cities typically represent Him to whom we have “fled for refuge to lay
hold upon the hope set before us” (Heb 6:18).
3. Due and orderly investigation must be made, and each case tried on its own
malts before a court of law.
a. All along the road they placed markers with the word “REFUGE” written in bold
letters.
b. When the fugitive came to a crossroad, he needed not hesitate for a moment.
c. Seeing that blessed word, “REFUGE,” he kept on his breathless pace, with
relentless determination, until he reached the place of safety.
d. Once he entered the gates of the city, he was secure.
e. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Refuge for sinners.
f. The way to Christ is plainly revealed, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved.”
4. Notice the original law concerning this subject. (Gen. 9:6)
a (Gen 9:6) "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in
the image of God made he man."
b. . There is nothing Jewish about (Gen. 9:6) since it was given before the
nation of Israel had any existence.
c. Capital Punishment was instituted by God Himself long before the giving of
the Mosaic Law.
d. This law had never been repealed by God Himself, and therefore should
continue trill the end of time.
5. The law of Capital Punishment is not based upon any "WELL BEING OF HUMANITY"
but is based upon the fact that man is made "IN THE IMAGE OF GOD."
a. (I Cor. 11:7) says: "...as he (man) is the image and glory of God:...."
b. (James 3:9) says: "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith
curse we men, which are made after the similitude (.image) of God."
Int Andrew Fuller "To deface the king's image is a sort of treason among men,
implying a hatred against him, and that if he himself were within reach, he
would be served in the same manner. How much more heinous, then, must it be to
destroy, curse, oppress, or in any say abuse the image of THE KING OF KINGS!"
1. CONSIDER THE FIRST TIME THE CITIES OF REFUGE ARE MENTIONED. (Ex. 21:12-14)
A. Here a sharp distinction is drawn between deliberate murder and involuntary
manslaughter.
1. There was a place of Refuge for unintentional murder, but not for willful
murder.
2. It is important to notice that the "CITIES OF REFUGE" were provided in the
first chapter after the giving of the law.
3. In all ages, God has tempered His justice with mercy, and caused his grace to
reign through Righteousness.
(1) (Ps103:13) "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them
that fear Him."
(2) (Ps. 119:156) "Great are Thy tender mercies, 0 Lord."
(3) (Isaiah 28:21) speaks of His Wrath as His "STRANGE WORK"
(4) (Neh 9:17) "..Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness "
(5) (Micah 7:18) "He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in
Mercy."
Note: And all the CITIES OF REFUGE testified to this truth.
II. NOTICE THE WORDING OF (Ex. 21:13)
A. THE SCRIPTURES ARE CLEAR ON THIS MATTER.
1. (Exo 21:13) "And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand;
then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee."
a. It is not "And if a man lie not in wait, but accidently slay another," but
instead, "And if a man lie not in wait Having no intention to injure his
neighbour), BUT GOD DELIVER HIM INTO HIS HAND.
b. (Ps 68:20) "...Unto God the Lord belong the issues from death."
2. The gates of death open to none except at the command of the Most High, and
when He gives the word none can withstand it.
a. (Ecc. 3:21) My times (to be born and to die) are in Thy hand."
b. (Ps. 31:15) says: "My times are in Thy hand..."
c. (Job 14:5) "Seeing his days (Ecc. 3:1) are determined, the number of his
months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;..."
B. NOT ONLY THE HOUR OF DEATH IS DIVINELY DECREED, BUT EVEN THE FORM OF DEATH IS
DECREED.
1. (John 10:31) "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.", but in vain,
for God had ordained that He should be crucified! !
III. NOTICE THAT THESE CITIES WERE APPOINTED BY GOD. (Num 35:9-11)
A. IN THE WILDERNESS OF (EX 21) , "A PLACE" WAS PROVIDED IN THE WILDERNESS----
NOT YET A CITY.
1 Some Jewish writers say that it was just outside the camp, but:
2. Since all the cities of Refuge pertained to the "LEVITES, it must have been
WITHIN the camp and consigned to the care of THE PRIESTS.
IV. NOTICE THE LOCATION OF THESE SIX CITIES OF REFUGE. (Num 35:13-14)
A. WHY WERE THREE OF THESE CITIES LOCATED ON THE EAST BANK OF THE JORDAN?
1. Because two and a half of the Tribes, namely the children of Gad, the
children of Reuben, and half the trite of Manasseh, had been assigned their
place on this aide. (Num 32:33)
a. (Num 32:33) "And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to
the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph,
the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan,
the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country
round about."
2. The reason for this was that Sihon, king of the Amorites and Og king of
Bashan, refused Israel's' request to pass through theirs .land, and were
consequently stain in battle and the Land seized by the conquerors. (NUM
21:21-31)
B. NOR WAS THE USE OF THESE CITIES OF REFUGE LIMITED JUST TO THE NATURAL SEED OF
ABRAHAM.
1. They were designed for the stranger and the sojourner too. (Num 35:15)
a. (Num 35:11) "Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you;
that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares."
V. SHELTER AND SECURITY WERE PROVIDED ONLY FOR ONE WHO HAD BROUGHT ABOUT THE
DEATH OF ANOTHER WITHOUT DELIBERATE DESIGN, WITH NO INTENTION OF INFLICTING ANY
INJURY UPON HIM.
A. TO PREVENT ANY GUILTY PERSON FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROVISION FOR THE
INONENT THE ACCUSED MUST "STAND BEFORE THE CONGREGATION. (Num 35:12)
1. (Num 35:12) "And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger;
that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment."
a. That .is, before a court of justice for a fair trial.
B. ONCE THE MANSLAYER HAD ENTERED THE CITY OF REFUGE, THE AVENGER OF BLOOD COULD
ONLY ACT AS PROSECUTOR, (through formerly he had the right to be executioner)
(NUM 35:19)
1. (Num 35:19) "The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he
meeteth him, he shall slay him."
C. THERE WAS TO BE NO EXCEPTION TO THE RULE FOR MURDER. (Num 35:30-31)
1. Notice the reason for such stern requirements. (Num 35:33-34)
a. (Num 35:33-34) "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it
defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed
therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. {34} Defile not therefore the
land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the
children of Israel."
2. (I Jn. 3:15) still says: "Whoso hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know
that NO MURDERER HATH ETERNAL LIFE abiding in him."
VI. NOTICE HOW THE NEW TESTAMENT TREATS THIS SUBJECT.
A. THE CIVIC RULER OR MAGISTRATE IS TWICE CALLED “THE MINISTER OF GOD”
1. First, in protecting the law abiding;
2. Second, in penalizing those that defy the law.
B. NOTICE THAT IT SAYS: (Romans 13:4) that "He beareth not the sword in vain."
1. The SWORD is the symbol of death. (Gen. 3:24; Zech. 13:7)
a. (Gen 3:24) "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden
of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way
of the tree of life."
b. (Zec 13:7) "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is
my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be
scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."
C. NOTICE THE TOTAL ABSENCE OF ANY REFERENCE TO REFORMING CRIMINALS.
1. No where does the Bible give place to reforming murderers and rapists. .
2. . THERE IS A TWO-FOLD PURPOSE FOR THE MAGISTRATE.
a. (1 Pet 2:14) "Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."
3. It is a sign of moral degeneracy, and incurring of God's displeasure when
capital punishment is abolished.
CONCLUSION: "MY HIDING PLACE"
Int. The following was found in the pocket of a Major Andre during the American
Revolution.
Hail, Sovereign Love, which first began
The Scheme to rescue fallen man!
Hail, Matchless, Free, Eternal Grace,
Which gave my Soul a Hiding Place!
Against the God who built the sky,
I fought witrh hands uplifted high...
Despised the mention of His Grace,
Too proud to seek a Hiding Place!
Enwrapt in thick Egyptian night,
And fond of darkness more than light,
Madly I ran the sinful race,
Secure...without a Hiding Place!
But thus the eternal counsel ran,
"Almighty love, arrest that man!"
I felt the arrows of distress,
And found I had no Hiding Place.
Indignant Justice stood in view,
To Sinai's fiery mount I flew;
But Justice cried with a frowning face,
"This mountain is no Hiding Place!"
Ere long a Heavenly voice I heard,
And Mercy's angel soon appeared,
He led me, with a beaming face,
To Jesus as a Hiding Place.
On Him Almighty vengeance fell,
Which must have sunk a world to Hell,
He bore it for a sinful race,
And thus became their Hiding Place.
Should sevenfold storms of thunder roll,
And shake this globe from pole to pole,
No thunderbolt shall daunt my face,
For Jesus is my Hiding Place.
..