“Cities of Refuge"

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos

Pulpit Series    Volume 20    Issue 24           October 3, 2010

Joshua 20:1-9  “The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spoke to you through Moses: That the slayer that kills any person unawares and unwittingly may flee there: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.  And when he that flees to one of those cities shall stand at the entrance of the city, and shall declare his case in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city to 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 turn  the slayer into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and didn’t hated him. 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 to his own city, and to his own house, to the city from where he fled.  And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee and Shechem in mount Ephraim and Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.  And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness and Ramoth in Gilead, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.  These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger that travels among them, that whosoever kills any person at unawares might flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.”

This being ordered of God makes this a DIVINE appointment.

These cities were to be sanctified, set apart.  

I’d like you to consider Hebrews 6:18-19.  “We 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 stedfast.”

Jesus was set apart according to God’s will for our sakes.

We are to be set apart for the sake of others.

Being in God’s appointed shelter, brings great confidence. 

The very nature of these cities was to be “merciful”. 

Present mercy / righteous protection was offered in each city.  Consider our precious Jesus….Mercy to pardon, grace to help and the power of justice to protect and keep.

Much more than a mere shelter, Jesus is the justifier of all who believe.  He is our safe place - our refuge!

Look at the significance of the names of the cities of refuge.

KEDESH  (holy place) 

A refuge for the unclean  

The holiness of Jesus becomes the hope of the unclean. 

ONLY THAT WHICH IS CLEAN CAN CLEANSE!

We are to teach God’s people according to Leviticus 10:10 and Ezekiel 44:23, the difference between the holy and profane and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Psalms 51:10-14  “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me… Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted to you.”

We are to teach people about Jesus, because He is the cleansing fountain!

Zechariah 13:1  “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” 

SHECHEM (shoulder) 

A refuge for the weary 

The lost sheep found safety and rest on the shoulders of the shepherd.  Luke 15:5  “he laid it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

Jesus a strong Savior: The government is upon His shoulders.  There is no rest in ruling ourselves. 

When we trust Jesus, we lean not only

on His mercy, but on His almightiness.  

What a safe and secure place the weary child finds on the shoulders of its loving father. 

Jesus Himself carries our burdens upon His shoulders.  Matthew 11:28  “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest.”

HEBRON (fellowship) 

A refuge for the homeless 

Man is spiritually a homeless wanderer.  As the homeless prodigal found refuge in his father’s house, so we in Christ.  Jesus is the Hebron for the soul.  I John 1:3  “Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 

There is no fellowship with the

Father outside of Christ. 

BEZER (stronghold) 

A refuge for the helpless  

Proverbs 18:10  “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and are safe.”

No matter how helpless you are,

in Jesus is eternal safety!  

All other hiding places will fail, but the name of the Lord will never ever fail! 

Matthew 7:25-27  “The rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house.. and it fell not: it was founded upon a rock.”  

That Rock is Jesus - the same yesterday, today and forver.

 

RAMOTH (exalted) 

A refuge for the hopeless 

Our base nature is not only that of helplessness, but we are without hope in this world. 

Ephesians 2:12  “That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”

Jesus is our hope  He is exalted at the Father’s right hand, with a name that is above all names.  He is high and lifted up!  If you feel hopeless in this world, look up over the crowd. 

Flee to Him!  No mountain could save from the great flood.  Those saved were lifted up in the ark and Jesus is our ark of hope!

GOLAN (separated) 

A refuge for the tempted 

Many of our brothers and sisters are often tempted in this world because they flirt with the world.  They’ve not yet fled to Jesus the city of separation.   

II Corinthians 6:17-18  “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And  be a Father to you!”

The tempter often overtakes these poor unseparated souls. 

Golan is the last city mentioned.  Separation from the world system is usually the last refuge sought after. 

However, Jesus must be our ALL AND ALL if we are to be perfectly sheltered from the curse, the world, the flesh and the devil.

Can you say, “God is my Refuge and my Strength”?

We have learned about six cities this morning, each one being a type of refuge. 

I pray that the Holy Spirit will teach us to see Christ as your total refuge!

Then as a collective result we will be “That” church in Osoyoos….

· a refuge for the unclean

· a refuge for the weary

· a refuge for the homeless

· a refuge for the helpless

· a refuge for the hopeless

· a refuge for the tempted 

To God be the Glory!