FHBC Sermon Notes

 

Joshua 20:1-9 - How does a society address violence? What is the rule of law? What about unintended harm? Here we look at the God's provision for the accused... the cities of refuge.

Intro

We have all done something in which we unintentionally caused harm? What is our reaction, how do we deal with it. What if someone dies as a result of our action?

In Israel God established cities in which one who had unintentionally killed someone could flee, to seek refuge and ultimately await judgment for their actions.

Why would God establish such cities of refuge?

The City of Refuge: It's Practice

1. The number and geography of the cities of refuge. (10:7-8)

These cities were six in number and were set aside. They were spread out evenly across the nation. Three on the east side of the Jordan and three on the west. A person from anywhere in the country could make it to one of these cities in only a half-days journey.

2. The purpose of the city refuge. (10:2-6)

This provided a refuge not for the murderer, but for one that had committed what we call manslaughter. It is unitentional killing of a fellow human being. Not premeditated. "No previous hate in his heart"

Scripture gives a few examples of what is unitentional: Numbers 35:16-40, Deuteronomy 19

Note that all crimes are still liable, even those committed in ignorance. In this passage the word for murder and manslaughter is the same. Context determines the difference. But any life taken is still an offense.

Genesis 9:6 - the offense is because all persons are made in the image of God.

When the manslayer flees, there is still a process, an initially hearing will the elders of the town to determine if he is allowed, qualified to live there. He becomes a resident of that city.

There is a special provision: the manslayer must stay in the city, until the high priest dies, after which he is free from any further judgment.

What is the significance of this for us?

The City of Refuge: Its Significane

1. The city of refuge highlights the seriousness of sin and affirms the necessity of God's justice.

Without refuge, the slayer would be dead. However, if we just justify the killing away, saying it is o.k. then there would be no sense of offense to begin, no opportunity for forgiveness, no true understanding of the seriousness of sin. The easy way out is to equivocate our sin, to give circumstantial evidence. God could have just wiped out the accusation, but that is not what he did. There are still consequences.

Sin is so serious to God, that he sent his own Son to die gruesomely to take the punishment for our sin. God could have just wiped our sins out, and equivocated as well, but sin is terrible, and for love to be displayed, justice must be real, not imagined.

2. The city of refuge demonstrates the depths of God's mercy.

There is no other place we can find mercy than in God himself. We turn ourselves over to his justice, for only in him can we find mercy and forgiveness. Everytime we come to a place in our lives where we do not received the consequences we are do we see God's mercy.

3. The city of refuge points to the sacrificial ministry of Jesus Christ.

How can we read this passage without seeing Christ. Christ suffered not becuase he deserved it, but because he took all of God's fury and wrath on himself on our behalf.

Isaiah 53

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 8

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Praise God for his great love for us!

One final note...why is the death of the high priest the freeing event for the manslayer? In the light of Jesus, this becomes clear. Christ is our great high priest. (Hebrews 10;11-14). His sacrifice is the ultimately sacrifice, the end to all sacrifice, completely sufficient for all time.

And so... We like the manslayer must flee, not to the mountains, to our strength, but to our refuge, our savior Jesus Christ. We are kept by him to remain forever and ever.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah