The Cities of Refuge
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
6/28/2009 PM
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Text:
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Numbers 35:9-29
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Psalters: |
86, 179, 161, 71 |
- The need.
- Scripture’s presuppositions:
- We are guilty of many more sins than we think: sins of omission and unintentional sins.
- All sin must be punished, and the wages of any and all sin is death (Rom. 6:23).
- Capital punishment is God’s statute (Gen. 9:6) established long before Sinai; and it was never repealed.
- The responsibility to execute God’s justice fell on the avenger of blood.
- God’s grace is greater, able to protect from deserved punishment and even to wipe it out clean.
- The procedure was precise.
- One who did something which resulted in the death of another was to run to one of the cities of refuge for asylum.
- Then they would take the manslayer to the place where the death occurred, where the trail took place.
- If it occurred “unawares,” then the manslayer would continue to live, but must remain within the walls of the city.
- The only time the manslayer might leave the city of refuge was if the High Priest would die (25b,28).
- This procedure was right.
- The significance of the cities of refuge.
- The “avenger” of blood is the “redeemer” or “kinsman-redeemer.”
- The blood shed cries to God for justice (Gen. 4:10).
- God’s law is as the blood-avenger, which pursues every sinner.
- The six Cities of Refuge afforded protection from receiving the deserved punishment.
- The slayers would be housed and fed gratuitously, with every need provided.
- Their safety was because the city was God’s designated shelter, which is Jesus Christ.
- When the High Priest would die, then (and only then) could the slayers be set completely free.
- Implied admonition to flee to and hide in Jesus Christ.
- The way to Jesus is the direct way to safety.
- It is straight (believe and live), not round about.
- Jesus is the true City of Refuge, Who saves and keeps safe all those who flee to Him for mercy.
- May we learn to flee to Jesus.
- God will have mercy and will ever keep safe all those He gives to see their danger and desire to fly to the Refuge.