A City Of Refuge | Ep22

Transcript

In the book of Hebrews in chapter 6 verse 18, the writer speaks of fleeing to Christ our refuge. The background of that phrase comes from the Old Testament where God had established six cities of refuge.

When they got into the Promised Land, God established three cities on each side of the Jordan River, and he called those cities of refuge. They were equal distance, basically, in the north, the middle, and the south. And the situation was that if someone accidentally killed another person, then the one who killed was to go immediately to one of the cities of refuge. Now, we read about these cities of refuge in Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 19, and Joshua, chapter 20. There’s a lot of interesting information about those cities, some of it found in the text of the Bible, and others with the traditions of the Jews that attached the details about the cities of refuge.

I want us to look at those cities of refuge and what the Bible says about them, and then I want us to make some comparisons between us fleeing to Christ, our refuge, and the way to flee to one of the cities. As I said, the person had to be accidentally killed someone. The Scriptures call him the man-slayer. We would just simply say, you know, it was an innocent killing. It was not intentional. It wasn’t murder.

But for some reason, God allowed the person who was the nearest of kin to the one who died to kill the one who had killed his relative. And so as soon as the man-slayer killed someone, he needed to immediately go to the city of refuge before the nearest of kin, who was called the go-el, could come to him and kill him. Now, it wasn’t protection for murderers. It was only protection for those who accidentally killed someone. And when the person got to that city, the elders tried the case, and if it was found that he did this by accident, then he could live in the city. If it was proven that he murdered the man, then he died according to the law.

As I said, there are a number of very interesting incidents about this related to it. And I want us to look at what the text says about those cities, and also the rabbinical teaching related to those cities that make an interesting understanding of the situation. As I said, the cities were established by God, three on each side of the Jordan River. And the man-slayer had to go to the gate of the city where he was tried, and to decide if it was murder or if it was unintentional. The man-slayer then had to be there. If it was proven that he was innocent, that he did not kill this person intentionally, then he had to live in that city.

He had to live in that city until the high priest died. When the high priest died, he was free then to go live wherever he wished. It is said by tradition that the relatives of the high priest would do what they could to care for that person, didn’t want him to pray for their death or their high priest, but all of that was tied together in terms of how long he would live in that city.

He lived there until that high priest died. But if he left that city during the time that high priest was still living and the Avenger, the Goel, knew about it, he could go and kill him at any time. There were several things with regard to making sure that that city of refuge was well marked.

There had to be signs along the way pointing where the city was. The roads had to be maintained so that there would be easy travel. There had to be bridges built over rivers.

Everything had to work so that this manslayer could quickly and easily get to that city. As he would go and be there, he had to stay in that city. From secular sources related to these events, we found that about the building of the bridges, about the signs pointing to the direction, and while he was in that city, he could be taught a trade so that he could support himself while he lived there.

As we stop and look at those events, there are a number of parallels with us fleeing to Christ, who is our refuge. First, the word refuge, the Goel, is the Avenger. Jesus Christ is the Avenger.

He’s the one that died to avenge our sins. And so that he is our Redeemer. He came to avenge and to bind Satan to set us free.

He redeemed us. That’s the picture of the idea that he bought us back. Another parallel we can see is, as one could only escape death by fleeing to the city, so spiritually speaking, one can only escape the spiritual death by fleeing to Christ.

You see in Romans 3.23, all of sin comes short of the glory of God. Romans 6 verse 23, the wages of sin is death. But John 3.16, for God has so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, who has ever believed in him to perish and have everlasting life.

And so we have to go to Christ if we’re going to have that refuge. As the slayer could find safety in no other place, so we cannot find safety spiritually in any other place. That’s the reason Peter says in Acts 4 verse 12, neither is there salvation in the other, for there’s none other name in heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

We have to be in Jesus Christ. And Paul, as he talks about Christians being the bride of Christ, he says in Ephesians 5 and verse 23, that when Jesus comes back to earth, he’s going to receive his bride. We’re going to be those who are his bride, those who are in the church.

When Jesus comes back, he’s not going to offer salvation to anyone except those who are in the church. And so just like those folks had to stay in that city, we have to stay in the city and safety and refuge of Jesus Christ. And likewise, if that man left that city, he could be killed by the avenger.

For you and I, when one gets into Christ, we must stay in Christ in order to have that salvation. We can lose that salvation if we leave Christ just like that man could lose his life if he left the city of refuge. You and I, Christians, in order to be faithful, must remain in a faithful condition in the church serving Christ lest we leave that and lose our security.

As we live in the Christian life and doing the best that we can, John says in 1 John 1 verse 7, if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sins. So that we must live in that, walk in that light, that is living to the very best of our ability according to the light of God’s word, the light of Christ himself.

And if we do that as we commit a sin, the blood of Christ forgives us of that sin. Particularly, you see, we have to, in 1 John 1 verse 8, confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So if we’re going to be in Christ for refuge, we have to stay there.

We cannot depart from the church. We must be there and stay in a faithful relationship while we are a part of the church. We also need to see a parallel in that the roads had to be clearly marked so that people could easily find their way to one of those cities.

Well, the same thing is true with regard to Christ. Paul speaks about the simplicity of the gospel. God’s word and the New Testament commands of us are not difficult to understand.

They’re clearly marked so that we can easily find that refuge in Jesus Christ. And so Jesus said in John 7 verse 17 that whosoever will, if they will, they can understand that mystery. They can understand the things that Jesus had said.

And Jesus said also in John 8.32, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. God has marked the way very clearly. He has told every individual what we need to do in order to get into that city.

We must hear about Jesus. Jesus said in John 6.45, whosoever heard and learned of the Father comes to me. Then in John 8 verse 24, Jesus said, except you believe that I am he, you’ll die in your sins.

Jesus also said in Luke 13.3, except you repent, you’ll all likewise perish. And then we also must confess Jesus Christ, confess that he’s the Lord. Peter made that confession when Jesus said, who do you believe that I am? He said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And then, of course, we must be baptized to get into that city, into that place of refuge. Romans 6.3 and 4 says, know you not that as many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death. Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death, and like his Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

So the point here, the parallel we’re seeing is, first off, we have to flee to Jesus Christ. There is no other place to find spiritual safety. And once we get there, we must stay in that, in Christ, faithfully, or else we can die outside.

It was the obligation of the Slayer to go personally. So it is with Christ. Every individual is responsible to God.

We cannot go for somebody else. You know, there are several families I’ve seen. The wife is so faithful to Christ, and the children, she brings the children, and quite often her husband comes with her, and he’s there all the time, but he’s not a member.

He cannot get to heaven. He cannot get in the refuge of Christ because his wife is faithful. He is committed sin.

He must go personally himself to be able to enjoy that challenge and the blessings that are there. Sin is personal. We do not inherit sin.

Sin is what one commits himself. First John 3-4 says that sin is lawlessness. Sin is that which an individual does.

And so every individual has committed those sins, and every individual has to come personally into Jesus Christ. We cannot arrive into Jesus Christ and the eternal rewards because our family members are faithful members of the Church. No, we all have to be.

Obedience is required. Jesus said in Matthew 7, 21-23, not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, surrender in the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. For many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have I not prophesied in that name? Thy name done many wonderful works.

He said, depart from me, you that work iniquity, I never knew you. You see, just because those folks were religious did not put them into the safety and refuge of Christ. Just because those folks had a good, clear conscience did not mean that they were in that city of refuge.

Just because those folks were doing a lot of good works did not mean that they were in the city of refuge. One only gets into the city of refuge when that one is baptized into Jesus Christ. No one else can do that for us.

The Hebrew writer said that we have salvation unto all them that obey Him. And so we must flee ourselves individually to that city of refuge. Then, as I said, safety was required quickly.

We ought to obey quickly what we know. When Saul of Tarsus became a believer and God sent to him Ananias to teach him. He asked Saul, and now why terrorists arise and be baptized and watch away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

The same thing that the eunuch felt like when they were riding along in the chariot. He said, see, here’s water. What doth hinder me from being baptized? Salvation and safety are found quickly.

When we get to that place of safety, we need to take it as quickly as possible. And then also, Jesus is going to come back to take vengeance on those who are wicked, those who are outside of Christ. And just like that avenger could take vengeance on those who are not in the city.

And so it is that when Jesus Christ comes back, He will take vengeance on those. In 2 Thessalonians 1, verse 6, He said that it is only right for God to afflict those who afflict you, that He’s coming back in flaming fire, rendering vengeance on those that know not God and that obey not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so as we stop and think about this great comparison between those great cities of refuge, they were for the protection of the man who innocently killed someone.

Well, Jesus Christ is our place of refuge. And that’s the only place where we can find refuge from the wrath of God at the end of time. We urge you, if you’re not in that end Christ, to run to Him quickly as that place or city of refuge.

We urge you to make that good confession, be obedient to God’s will, be baptized into Jesus Christ for the protection that He offers you there. It will be wonderful. And in that blessed place of the church, you can find comfort.

You can find people of like man. You can be there to be encouraged to live the Christian life. And if you will remain faithful in that last day, God Christ will say enter into the joy prepared for the foundation of the world.

And how wonderful it will be to hear those words. And so let me encourage you, if you’re not in the refuge of Christ, to seek and run to Jesus Christ. Thanks for joining us this week and spending time in God’s Word.

Special thanks to Matt Graham, John Kachelman, and LightWay Media for recording, producing, and making this podcast possible. If you’re ever in the Littleton, New Hampshire area, we’d love to have you join us for worship and Bible study on Sunday afternoons at 4 at the Senior Center. You’re always welcome.

For more information about this podcast, visit LightwayMedia.com slash meditating on the Word. And find the link there to email me to subscribe to my free weekly newsletter with more information you can use in your personal Bible study. Be sure to like, subscribe, and follow us on your favorite podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

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“Meditating On The Word” is hosted by Wayne Burger, recorded by Mac Graham, and produced by John Kachelman III and LightWay Media. Follow us on social media to get updates and information when available.

If you’re ever in the Littleton, New Hampshire area, please join Wayne and Mac for worship and Bible study on Sundays at 4 PM at the Senior Center. You’re always welcome! You can get more information on their work online at www.littletonnhchurchofchrist.org.

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Cities of Refuge comfort God Littleton manslayer New Hampshire refuge safety Wayne Burger

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