Lesson 139 - Senior

Memory Verse

Cross References

I The Refuge Ordained by God for Israel's Innocent Manslayers

1. Canaan was to be divided into three parts, a city of refuge in each, [DEU:19:1-3]; [JOS:20:7].

2. The country east of Jordan was also to be in three parts, with three such cities, [DEU:19:7-9]; [DEU:4:41-43]; [NUM:35:9-14]; [JOS:20:8].

3. The law required a murderer's life to be forfeited, the nearest relative of the murdered to be the executioner, [DEU:19:21]; [GEN:9:6]; [EXO:20:13]; [EXO:21:12]; [LEV:24:17-22]; [NUM:35:16-21], [NUM:35:29-30]; [PRO:28:17].

4. Accidental killings were not to be punished by death. To protect the manslayer, God set aside the cities of refuge, [DEU:19:4-10]; [JOS:20:1-6], [JOS:20:9].

5. The accused must stay in the city of refuge, to be protected, [NUM:35:22-28].

6. Under this system, justice was not perverted, but guaranteed, [DEU:19:11-13], [DEU:19:15]; [NUM:35:31-34].

7. Perjury was considered a capital crime, [DEU:4:16-19].

8. Punishment for willful offences was ordained as an example to others, [DEU:4:20-21].

II The Refuge for Us in Christ

1. A sinner needs a place of refuge, because of the:

(a) Curse of a broken law, [GAL:3:10];

(b) Justice of God, [NAH:1:3];

(c) Consequences of sin, [ROM:6:23];

(d) Guilt of sin, [ROM:3:19];

(e) Power of sin and Satan, [ROM:6:14]; [COL:1:12-13];

(f) Wrath to come, [2TS:1:7-9].

2. Refuge is provided by God, in Christ, and is ample for all, accessible to all, and adequate for every need, [JHN:3:16]; [JHN:14:5-6]; [JHN:10:27-29]; [REV:22:17]; [PS:9:9]; [PS:27:1-14]; [PS:57:1]; [PS:62:7-8]; [PS:142:4-7].

3. We must stay in the Refuge, to receive His protection, [JHN:14:6]; [JHN:15:4-7]; [HEB:6:17-19].

Notes

Symbols of the Gospel Dispensation

Here is another one of the many Old Testament provisions that were instituted, not only for Israel's temporal welfare but as a symbol, or type, of a great Gospel truth. The cities of refuge, appointed by God for the benefit of Israel's manslayers, that innocent blood would not be unnecessarily shed, are but a type of the refuge that we may find in God, through Jesus Christ, from the ultimate consequences of sin.

Israel's temporal blessings in Canaan are symbols of spiritual blessings in this Gospel dispensation. They inherited a land flowing with milk and honey that was rich in natural resources. We are promised a "Spiritual Canaan" that satisfies all our spiritual needs, a wealth of blessings that continually flow to us from the Fountainhead of Living Waters, God Almighty, through Jesus Christ, His Son.

The Law Regarding Murder

When a life was taken, in Old Testament times, it was necessary that justice be satisfied and the guilty per-son punished. The first murderer, Cain, felt the weight of the divine sentence imposed upon him and said it was more than he could bear, since he would be a fugitive and a vagabond on the face of the earth. The stern edict of that early day said that "whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed" (Genesis 9:6). And no doubt in the years of time there have been many who have suffered unjustly through the hasty mistakes of the avenger. God, ever mindful of His people and eager that His holy laws might be carried out in the spirit in which they were given, made the provision before us, in our present study, that serious errors might be prevented and injustice curbed.

The taking of another's life is a most serious offence. There is a difference between murder and man-slaughter. To kill with hate, malice, enmity, or revenge as the motive prompting the act, is murder. But to kill accidentally, when there is no malice, hatred, enmity, or revenge in the heart of the killer, is manslaughter. God Himself is the Author of life in man, and no one has the right to put an end to that life but God Himself. He uses different ways to bring it to an end, sometimes empowering the civil authorities with the responsibility, that lawlessness might be controlled.

Life is also the time to prepare for eternity, and sometimes a soul's salvation depends upon a longer life. Therefore it is of infinite importance that the life of man be lengthened to the utmost limits assigned by God, that the guilty soul may have all the opportunities possible to repent and make its peace with God. So the man who takes the life of another before his time may be the murderer of his soul as well as his body, and the most severe laws should be enacted against this, for the purpose of punishment and for the prevention of the recurrence of such crimes.

Other things besides murder were punishable by death under the Mosaic Law; among them being adultery, blasphemy against God, breaking the Sabbath days, or rebellion in a son. But these were not offences where personal feeling would be strong against a guilty one, and the danger of anyone's arising against the accused to carry out unjustly the death penalty was small. But in a case where a person's nearest relative was murdered, or killed accidentally, the strength of human feelings would rise to its highest and the surviving relative might kill the wrong person, or an innocent manslayer, in revenge, being temporarily deprived of his sound reasoning power by the grief of his personal loss. Innocent blood would be shed and the law that God had ordained for the punishment of murderers would be misapplied, thereby eventually bringing God's ordinances into disrepute.

God's Refuge for the Innocent

Six cities were chosen, in six different sections of the land. These were centrally located, and connected by broad roads that were kept open and unclogged, which, tradition tells us, were marked "Refuge." When a per-son killed another accidentally he was entitled to security in one of these cities until the danger against his life was gone.

Naturally others besides those entitled to these provisions would also come to the cities, and for this reason a provision was made that would protect God's Law as well as the innocent person and see that justice was meted out. When a person killed another, and was found in a city of refuge, he was brought before the civil authorities and his case tried. If he was innocent, having killed accidentally and without hatred, malice, enmity, or revenge, he was allowed to continue living in the city until the death of the high priest. If he left the city at any time during that period the manslayer would run the risk of being killed by the avenger of blood, who was the nearest relative of the person accidentally killed.

No allowance was made for willful murder. That person must suffer for his crime. When he stood before the seated authorities and his case was heard they decided if he was guilty or innocent of murder. A murderer was delivered to the avenger of blood, who executed the sentence in the way prescribed by God's Law. One witness was not enough to condemn a man to death. Two or three must be brought, and they must agree on all points. A bride could not be taken by even the avenger of blood to pervert justice, and a perjured witness was automatically found guilty of the crime with which he was attempting to charge the accused. We do not read in the Bible that the cities of refuge were ever found inefficient, or that the privilege was ever abused.

The chosen cities were actually cities in which the Levites dwelt. That meant that the persons finding refuge therein were in contact with the people whom God had appointed to teach the Law. They would have godly associates, they would draw nearer to God, and they would learn more of God and His ways during the time of their residence there.

Christ, Our Refuge

Some have attempted to show interesting parallels between the names of those cities and the blessings of salvation as provided for the sinner. But this is hardly necessary. However, the great fact that these cities were a beautiful picture of Christ is apparent to all students of the Bible.

In Christ we have, as it were, a city of refuge to which we may flee when being pursued by the enemy; and having gained entrance there we are amply secure. The Law no longer has any power over us. Our guilt of sin is gone! We are freed from the consequences of our sin and iniquity! The difference between the type and its fulfillment is marked in one particular, however. The only ones protected in the cities of refuge were those innocent of willful murder, but in Christ we all -" since all are guilty of sin -" may find refuge and pardon.

When we come to God we all are guilty of open transgression and violation of the law of God. But so extensive and far-reaching is the mercy of God that no matter how deep that guilt may be, no matter how heavy the load may be upon us, grace prevails when we find entrance into the refuge. Christian, the principal character of the allegory "Pilgrim's Progress," ran toward the wicket gate, stopping his ears with his fingers that he might not hear the cries of those who attempted to dissuade him, crying as he ran, "Eternal Life! Eternal Life!"

We, too, may "have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Since He is the High Priest forever, we need never leave that refuge. We are kept by His power as long as we remain in His care. Our hand is the only hand that can remove us from His protection. We may en-joy His fellowship and love forever. Great is the mercy of God!

Questions

1. What was God's law concerning murder, as understood from the very beginning of time?

2. What qualifications were necessary in each of the cities of refuge, that they might best serve the people?

3. Who were eligible for protection in the cities? and when did the period of their protection terminate?

4. Name the six cities.

5. What beautiful parallels with the life and office of Christ do you find in these cities?

6. How does Hebrews 6:17-19 apply to this subject in its spiritual interpretation?

7. Look up the word "refuge" in a concordance and see how much of our eternal hope is hinged upon this Scriptural fact.

8. What great chapter of the Gospel of John bears out the necessity of abiding in Christ? Read it thoroughly and prayerfully.

9. Tell how this lesson contradicts the fallacious doctrine of the eternal security of the believer.

10. The man guilty of murder was eventually punished for his crime under this system. How does this com-pare with us, who, though guilty of sin, find refuge in Christ? Which of God's great moral attributes makes this possible?