June 9th, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Safe Refuge

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Opening Prayer

God of Justice and Mercy, human anger is not just nor are our sentiments reliable. Thank You for keeping us safe from both.

Read Deuteronomy 19:1-14

[1] When the LORD your God has destroyed the nations whose land he is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their towns and houses, [2] then set aside for yourselves three cities in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess. [3] Determine the distances involved and divide into three parts the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities. [4] This is the rule concerning anyone who kills a person and flees there for safety-anyone who kills a neighbor unintentionally, without malice aforethought. [5] For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life. [6] Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought. [7] This is why I command you to set aside for yourselves three cities. [8] If the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he promised on oath to your ancestors, and gives you the whole land he promised them, [9] because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today-to love the LORD your God and to walk always in obedience to him-then you are to set aside three more cities. [10] Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed. [11] But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor, and then flees to one of these cities, [12] the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die. [13] Show no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you. [14] Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“Just as I am, thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve: Because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come” (Charlotte Elliott, 1789-1871).

Think Further

This passage relates to the sixth commandment (Deut. 5:17) and differentiates between murder and manslaughter. The former is intentional, to be punished by death (Num. 35:16-21), while the latter is unintentional (4,5) and treated differently. Ancient social custom demanded that relatives of a victim avenge his death by seeking the death of his murderer. What if the victim was killed accidentally? Human emotions can run high and the avenger may take the law into his own hands. For such situations, God designated cities of refuge. The man who killed accidentally can run to any of them for protection.

 

These cities were spread out across the land for easy access. Roads were to be built to these cities (3). Extra-biblical sources mention that at every crossroads were signs saying, “Refuge! Refuge!” The cities offered refuge to both Jew and foreigner (Josh. 20:9). Anyone seeking refuge would be tried to ensure that his case was genuine (Josh. 20:4-6). Murderers were not allowed to find refuge and were handed over for the law to take its due course (11-13).

 

The cities of refuge were a reminder of God’s justice and mercy. His laws ensured the rights of a murder victim to have the murderer given just punishment and also protected those who killed accidentally. God did not want innocent blood to be shed in the land (10,13). Yet to make a way so that all of us guilty humans can be offered refuge, Jesus shed his innocent blood in the land for us (Heb. 6:18). In his mercy extended to us through Christ, God offers forgiveness and refuge to those guilty of sins. He, the avenger of his Son whom we killed, forgives us and offers a safe place in him for ever. We are now “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).

Apply

If you have not come to Jesus for refuge, today is the day. Call out to him. Thank him for his sacrifice on your behalf and live in him.

Closing prayer

Lord, I am a sinner in need of forgiveness and safe refuge from punishment. Help me to run to Jesus and remain in him, and help me to point the way to others.

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