cities of refuge

04/12/23 Email. [email protected] 1

CITIES OF REFUGEPRESENTED BY

JOY JOSEPH MUNDUKOTTACKAL

KONKANI CHRISTIAN(BRETHREN) ASSEMBLY


CITIES OF REFUGE

We might 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 Melchizedek. (Heb.6: 18-20)

CITIES OF REFUGE(References-Ex.21:13; Num.35; Deu.4: 41-43; Deu. 19;

Joshua. Ch.20; 21: 13; 21; 27; 32; 36; 38)


CITIES OF REFUGE

PURPOSE OF THE CITIES OF REFUGE

• God of infinite wisdom planned of the cities of refuge (Num.35:9)

• Anyone who killed a man accidentally could run for refuge (Num.35:11)

• Where he had a place of refuge from the avenger of blood (Num.35:12)

• There he could live until the death of the high priest (Num.35: 28)

• Then was he free to go his own home. (Num.35: 28)

(Reveals the infinite wisdom of God)


CITIES OF REFUGE

WHAT THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE ?

Deu.19: 4 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbor ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;

Deu.19: 6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

Were six Levitical cities anybody who killed a man accidentallycould flee to find refuge

(An O T shadow of how one can be relieved if fallen to sin)


CITIES OF REFUGE

• GOD PLANNED IT BEFOREHAND

Ex.21: 13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. (Num.35: 9-15)

• MOSES APPOINTED EAST OF JORDAN

Deu. 4: 41-43 Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sun rising; (Deu.19:1-13)

• JOSHUA SET ON THE WEST OF JORDAN Joshua 20:7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount

Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. (Jos.Ch.20)

(On both sides of R. Jordan irrespective of the number of

tribes)


CITIES OF REFUGE

• Joshua 20: 7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.

• Joshua 20: 8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.


CITIES OF REFUGE

SALIENT FEATURES -CITIES OF REFUGE

• Planned by God earlier (Ex.21: 13)

• Available and accessible to all (Deut.19:3)

• Gates were opened always (Jos.20: 4)

• Widely advertised (Jos.20: 2)

• Cities were seen from far as high (Deut.19: 6)

• Journey not far any one (Deut.19: 6)

• Whosoever could find refuge (Jos.20: 9)

• Refugee free to live there (Jos.20: 6)


Cities of Refuge

• Israel was redeemed from Egypt

We are redeemed of the Lord Jesus Christ

• For them He prepared Cities of Refuge

Eternal God is our refuge (Ps.46: 1)

• It may happen one to kill accidentally

By ignorance and infirmity can we go out of way (Heb.5: 2)

• God is our refuge and strength• Slayer pictures each one of us

• Our high priest is the Lord Jesus Christ


CITIES OF REFUGE

• WEST SIDE OF JORDAN

(Canaan) Jos.20:7

• Kedesh (Sanctuary)

In Mts. of Naphtali

• Shechem (Shoulder)

In the Mts. of Ephraim

• Hebron (Fellowship)

In the Mts. of Judah

• EAST SIDE OF JORDAN

(Trans Jordan) Jos.20:8

• Bezer (Strength)

In the plains of Reuben

• Ramoth (Height)

Out of the tribe of Gad

• Golan (Exile)

Out of Manasseh


CITIES OF REFUGE

• HOW THE CITIES WERE CHOSEN

• Levites had no inheritance in the land Num.35: 2

• Israelites gave from their portion to dwell Num.35: 2

• Levites received forty eight cities among them Num.35: 7

• Out of them six separated as cities of refuge Num.35: 6

(That none be too far or inaccessible for slayer)


CITIES OF REFUGE

• WHY SIX CITIES WERE CHOSEN ?

The avenger of the blood may not slay him because the way is long (Deut. 19: 6)

God near for any one- never denies the access (Heb.4:16)

• THOU SHALL PREPARE A WAY

Every slayer may flee thither (Deut.19: 3)

By a new and living way;..thru the (Heb.10: 20)

• 1 Jo.1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(God is not protector of sinner-Deu.19:10-12)


CITIES OF REFUGE

WHAT HE HAD TO DO ?

• He shall flee refuge to one of the city (Jos.20: 4)

• Shall stand at the entering of the city

• Shall declare his cause to ears of elders

• They shall take him to the city

• Shall give him a place to dwell

• Shall stands before congregation of Judgment

• Dwell until death of high priest (Num.35:28)

• Shall return to land of possession (Num.35:28)

• During stay must never go out of it (Num.35:27)


CITIES OF REFUGE

WHO WAS GIVEN PROTECTION ?

• Thrust him suddenly without enmity (Num.35: 22)

• Cast upon him without laying of wait (35: 22)

• Kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past (Deu.4: 42)

• Head of axe slipped from helve and hit (Deu.19: 5)

If a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. (Ex.21: 13)

(IF KILLED ANYONE ACCIDENTALLY)


CITIES OF REFUGE

WHO WAS NOT GIVEN PROTECTION ?

• Man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile (Ex.21: 14)

• Thrust him of hatred (Num.35: 20)

• Hurl at him by laying of wait (v.20)

• Smite with an instrument of iron, that he die (v.16)

• Smite him with a hand weapon of wood (v.18)

He is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death (Num.35:18)


CITIES OF REFUGE

• GOD IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH (Heb.12: 2)

• We may go out of way by ignorance and infirmity (Heb.5: 2)

• GOD IS SAVIOUR; NOT THE PROTECTOR OF SINNERS (Job.8: 20)

• Ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father (1.Jn.2:1)

• We can flee to him for refuge (Heb.6:18)

• GOD OUR ETERNAL REFUGE (Deu.33:27)


CITIES OF REFUGE

WE HAVE A HIGH PRIEST IN HEAVEN

• Remain there until the death of the high priest (Num.35: 26;28)• High priest after the order of Aaron, represented people before God.• Death of High priest provided freedom (Num.35: 28)

(Practices during the period of Theocratic rule)

• Our High priest (Jesus) is after order of Melchizedek

• Our High priest is living for ever (Heb.7: 17)

• Hebrews 7: 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth

to make intercession for them.


CITIES OF REFUGE

• Slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of refuge. (Num.35: 26)

(And the avenger of blood find him and kill the slayer; he

shall not be guilty of blood: Num.35: 27)

(Example- When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took

him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote

him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 2. Sam.3: 27)

(Abner was Slain just outside Hebron- the city of refuge)


CITIES OF REFUGE

YOUR HOPE IS SURE AND SECURE IN HIM (Heb.6: 18)

• You are in God with Christ Your life is hid with Christ in God. (Col.3:3)

• None can snatch you away And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (Jn.10: 28)

• Eternal security is not the license to sin

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin

(1.Jn.3: 9)


CITIES OF REFUGE LIFE UNDER THE PERIOD OF GRACE

(Mat.18:15-17)

These things write I unto you, that ye sin not.

(1.Jn.2: 1)

Rules for discipline in the church of God• If thy brother shall trespass against thee, • Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone;• If he will not hear thee, then take with thee two or more; • If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church;• But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the

flesh (1.Cor.5: 5)


CITIES OF REFUGE

FLEE UNTO GOD FOR REFUGE

• Draw nigh to God, he will draw nigh to you.(Ja.4: 7)

• Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not (1.Jn.3: 6)

Neither give place to the devil. (Eph.4: 27)

Devil; He was murderer from beginning (Jn.8: 44)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1.Pet.5: 8)


CITIES OF REFUGE

• THEN HE CAN RETURN TO HIS OWN CITY AND HOME (Num.35: 22; Jos.2:6)

• We are in the world and Now Jesus our high priest in heaven (Heb.7: 26)

• He made intercession on earth (Jn.17:11-12)

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in

the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them

• We have a high priest in Heaven (Heb. 4: 14)• Now makes intercession in heaven (Heb.8: 2)


CITIES OF REFUGE• Heb.6:18-20 We might have a

strong (Bezer=strength) consolation, who have fled for refuge (Golan= Exile) to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul (Hebron= fellowship), both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within (Kedesh=Sanctury) the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us (Ramoth= high place) entered, even Jesus, made an high priest (Shechem=Shoulder) for ever after the order of Melchizedek.


CITIES OF REFUGEWe have a High priest in heaven

• We have strong consolation (strength- Bezer)• For who runs for refuge (Exile- Golan)• An anchor of the soul (fellowship- Hebron)• Sanctuary within the veil (Sanctuary – Kedesh)• In the heavenly place (High place-Ramoth)• In his shoulders (shoulder- Shechem)

Aaron bear their names before the lord

• On His shoulders (Ex.28: 12)• Upon his heart (Ex.28: 21) (See the picture of a high priest)

• Our high priest Lord Jesus Christ lives and makes intercession

with out failing (Heb.7: 25)


CITIES OF REFUGE

I WISH THIS STUDY

“CITIES OF REFUGE”

HAS BEEN EDIFYING

Any questions, comments or suggestion

Please write to my email. Email: [email protected]

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