“What refuge is there for the victim who is oppressed with the knowledge that there are a thousand new books he ought to read, while life is only long enough for him to attempt to read a hundred?” (Source Unknown). … More
Refuge
Chapter 35 deals with the cities in the Promised Land. A description of the 48 cities of the Levites is given (vv. 1-8). Following this we hear about the six cities of refuge (vv. 9-34). As spoken of earlier, the Levites were not to receive an inheritance of land as the other tribes did, for God was their possession. Whole towns were not given to the Levites, but only as much as was needed for dwelling places (vv. 42- 34). They had to have a place to live, as well as pasture land for their animals. The number of Levite cities allotted each tribe was proportional to the size of the tribe (v. 8).
The six cities of refuge were designated as a constant reminder of the intimate relationship of God’s written law and the workings of His grace. They were spaced throughout the land (three on each side of the Jordan - v. 14) and protected those who had accidentally committed a crime, or who were awaiting trial from his avenger (v. 6). If a person killed another purely by accident he could find sanctuary in any one of the cities of refuge (Exodus 21:13) till the matter could come to trial. If indeed it turned out that the case was one of manslaughter and not murder, the accused would be allowed to stay in the city of refuge till the high priest died. However, if the accused went outside the city before he died he could be slain by the avenger. The death of the high priest symbolized a cancellation of the manslayer’s sin.
The picture of the high priest dying instead of the unintentional murderer is a perfect picture of Jesus, the great High Priest, dying instead of us. It has been seen that the cities of refuge truly did represent the refuge Christians have in Jesus Christ. If one is in sin, then he or she is going to be punished for that sin one day. Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death.” If a person is convicted of sin, and their refuge is not in Christ, then Satan the avenger will come after that person to receive them into everlasting death. If one accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior, then he or she will have asylum from death. There is an eternal refuge in Jesus Christ!
Application
I haven’t committed murder but Jesus says in Matthew 5:21, 22 that a person who becomes angry at someone has committed murder in his heart already so I need to apply this in my life.
Numbers 35:1-33 (English Standard Version)
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Laws concerning murder and bloodshed.
Numbers 35:1–33
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
“What refuge is there for the victim who is oppressed with the knowledge that there are a thousand new books he ought to read, while life is only long enough for him to attempt to read a hundred?” (Source Unknown). … More
Chapter 35 deals with the cities in the Promised Land. A description of the 48 cities of the Levites is given (vv. 1-8). Following this we hear about the six cities of refuge (vv. 9-34). As spoken of earlier, the Levites were not to receive an inheritance of land as the other tribes did, for God was their possession. Whole towns were not given to the Levites, but only as much as was needed for dwelling places (vv. 42- 34). They had to have a place to live, as well as pasture land for their animals. The number of Levite cities allotted each tribe was proportional to the size of the tribe (v. 8).
The six cities of refuge were designated as a constant reminder of the intimate relationship of God’s written law and the workings of His grace. They were spaced throughout the land (three on each side of the Jordan - v. 14) and protected those who had accidentally committed a crime, or who were awaiting trial from his avenger (v. 6). If a person killed another purely by accident he could find sanctuary in any one of the cities of refuge (Exodus 21:13) till the matter could come to trial. If indeed it turned out that the case was one of manslaughter and not murder, the accused would be allowed to stay in the city of refuge till the high priest died. However, if the accused went outside the city before he died he could be slain by the avenger. The death of the high priest symbolized a cancellation of the manslayer’s sin.
The picture of the high priest dying instead of the unintentional murderer is a perfect picture of Jesus, the great High Priest, dying instead of us. It has been seen that the cities of refuge truly did represent the refuge Christians have in Jesus Christ. If one is in sin, then he or she is going to be punished for that sin one day. Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death.” If a person is convicted of sin, and their refuge is not in Christ, then Satan the avenger will come after that person to receive them into everlasting death. If one accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior, then he or she will have asylum from death. There is an eternal refuge in Jesus Christ!
Application
I haven’t committed murder but Jesus says in Matthew 5:21, 22 that a person who becomes angry at someone has committed murder in his heart already so I need to apply this in my life.
Numbers 35:1-33 (English Standard Version)
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View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »