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W.D. Frazee Sermons Ministry

W.D. Frazee

Cities of Refuge

Text this evening is found in Joshua, the 20th chapter, verses 1 to 6.

You will remember that the New Testament says that what things, however, were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

So from this Old Testament record we draw a New Testament lesson in this Vesper service tonight.

Joshua 20 beginning with the first verse.

The Lord also spake unto Joshua saying, speak to the children of Israel saying, appoint out for you cities of refuge.

Whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses, that the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither, and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

And when he that doth flee unto 1 of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them and give him a place that he may dwell among them.

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his head, because he smote his neighbor unwittingly and hated him not before time.

And he shall dwell in that city until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days.

Then shall the slayer return and come unto his own city and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled." I think it was Dr.

Adam Clark, the famous Methodist commentator, who once stated that the entire gospel might be taught from this wonderful outline of instruction concerning the cities of refuge.

You see back there in those ancient times, it was a custom among the people, not merely among Israel, but in other nations, if a man was killed, for the nearest male relative of the deceased to take the responsibility for avenging the murder.

And God did not see fit to abolish this altogether, but he thought to safeguard things.

God gave clear instructions that in case of intentional, deliberate, malicious murder, the murderer should pay the penalty with his life.

But in case of accidental manslaughter, Or in case a man should suddenly do something under provocation, but without malicious intent thought of beforehand.

In fact, 6 were provided in Israel after the settling of the land of Canaan.

Among these were such well-known cities as Shechem and Hebron, the reign of Gilead.

Well, these cities were cities of the Levites, some of the priests.

It's significant that the various cities in which the ministers of God were located, that These were selected as places of refuge.

Here is a man, perhaps he's been out with his neighbor chopping wood, cutting down trees.

And the axe head flies off, kills his neighbor.

But the relatives of the man that had been killed, they think perhaps that it was murder.

And so they go after this man whose axe it was that caused the death.

My dear friends, there's only 1 thing he can do and that's to flee.

Now we're told that these cities were located so that they were within a half day's journey of any Israelite's home.

And the roads had to be kept up well, maintained well, good repair.

And there had to be signs along the road in good big plain letters, refuge, and the sign pointing toward the place.

God did everything he could to help them to see how they could escape the sword of the avenger.

And of course, it was all a symbol, an illustration, very literal indeed, in the case of the man that needed the protection.

But all through it Jesus was seeking to teach them the gospel.

Now it's interesting as you read here, that when that man came to the city, he had to stop at the gate there, and the elders were called together, and he had to state his case.

And if they felt that he deserved, that He was within the provisions of the plan.

Then, notice the wording of it, they shall take him into the city unto them and give him a place that he may dwell among them.

I was wondering, Brother Damon, if they had a locating committee.

The watchman looks down the road and he says, well, here's a man coming and he's running.

Then he looks again and he says, I see another man just a quarter of a mile behind and he's in pursuit.

Well, this first man comes up and they give him a hearing, they protect him from this avenger, and if he's within the provision, they say to the avenger, you'll have to go home.

Interesting what you can read between the lines here when you have some experience in this kind of work, isn't it, Frank?

But you can see, nothing imaginary about it, It had to be because it says they shall give him a place that he may dwell among them.

A whole series of problems started as soon as that man came in the gate, didn't they?

And my dear friends, they weren't just for overnight.

Because you notice, he had to dwell in that city until he stood before the congregation in judgment and until the death of the high priest.

Some high priest might live for several years.

So they really took on a problem, didn't they?

But the Lord said to them, mind the point, that's your business.

If you live in that city, if you live in Hebron, or if you live in Raymond, Gilead, or if you live in Shechem, that's your business.

And what do you suppose would have happened if when the man came in, the people had said, The people had said, oh, I don't know.

I hardly think there's anything around here.

The hotel's full, the inn's all full, and really things are rather cramped.

Turn him out, let him go back, let the avenger of blood cut his head off, that'll relieve everybody of the problem.

We'll need to find a place for him there.

Isn't it a wonderful thing to have such a vision of the Lord's work that we recognize that part of our work is to be bothered?

And now let's look at what this all represents.

First of all, this city of refuge represents Jesus.

If you're taking notes, and I hope you are, put down these texts.

Psalm 91, 2, I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge, my fortress.

Psalm 46, 1, God is our refuge and strength.

Proverbs 18, 10, the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe.

Jesus lover of my soul let me to thy bosom fly, other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on thee.

Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of thy wing.

Ah yes, my friends, each of us may see himself in that fleeing man.

Each of us may see Jesus in that city of refuge.

And we'd better stay there till the death of the high priest.

Of course in this case our high priest isn't going to die, but is he going to finish his work?

Is he going to finish his term of office?

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Cities of Refuge

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