Setting – God commands Joshua to designate the cities of refuge.
Content – The cities of refuge (see Deuteronomy 19) were a safe place for those who innocently killed another person. They were designed to be equal distance in all directions so that no city of refuge was too far away. There were three cities on the west of Jordan and three on the east. A great deal of effort was expended to keeping the path to the city free of obstacles and clearly marked signs so that no confusion would exist for its direction.
Once in the person was in the city, the officials of that city would try the person and if found innocent, he was to stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Both the Israelites and foreigners could find refuge (v. 9 NLT), “These cities were set apart for Israelites as well as the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the community.”
Application – The city of refuge is a beautiful representation of Christ. People would retreat to the cities of refuge in times of crisis; people sometimes do the same when coming to Christ. People avoid death of accusers while in these cites, we avoid sins penalty because of Christ. Each city was equal distance from the other and the road clearly marked and cleared of obstacles allowing easy access to them, Christ salvation is not difficult to obtain.
Christ salvation is easy to obtain but requires changing your virtual inhabitants, virtual inhabitants meaning no longer living in your old life. You now reside in the city of refuge (i.e. Christ) and your citizenship is heavenly focused. You are removed from your previous city and continue your life in your new residence.
We need to remember that our home is now in heaven and we live in our city of refuge living in the salvation of Christ while on this earth, until we are able to return home (heaven). Christ blood provides our innocence’s.
Content – The cities of refuge (see Deuteronomy 19) were a safe place for those who innocently killed another person. They were designed to be equal distance in all directions so that no city of refuge was too far away. There were three cities on the west of Jordan and three on the east. A great deal of effort was expended to keeping the path to the city free of obstacles and clearly marked signs so that no confusion would exist for its direction.
Once in the person was in the city, the officials of that city would try the person and if found innocent, he was to stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Both the Israelites and foreigners could find refuge (v. 9 NLT), “These cities were set apart for Israelites as well as the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the community.”
Application – The city of refuge is a beautiful representation of Christ. People would retreat to the cities of refuge in times of crisis; people sometimes do the same when coming to Christ. People avoid death of accusers while in these cites, we avoid sins penalty because of Christ. Each city was equal distance from the other and the road clearly marked and cleared of obstacles allowing easy access to them, Christ salvation is not difficult to obtain.
Christ salvation is easy to obtain but requires changing your virtual inhabitants, virtual inhabitants meaning no longer living in your old life. You now reside in the city of refuge (i.e. Christ) and your citizenship is heavenly focused. You are removed from your previous city and continue your life in your new residence.
We need to remember that our home is now in heaven and we live in our city of refuge living in the salvation of Christ while on this earth, until we are able to return home (heaven). Christ blood provides our innocence’s.
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