Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-03-13
LESSON FOR MARCH is
THE CITIES OF REFUGE.

i1- 'GStIlE9- VT iaGFO1Es
LESSON TEXT-Joshua 20.
GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed are the mer-
ctful: for they shall obtain mercy.--Mat-
thew ST.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL = Numbers
Is; Deuteronomy 49,
PRIMARY TOPIC-Protecting the un-
Fortunate
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC Treatment
Of unintentional Offenders.
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Our re-
sponsibility toward offenders.
I. The Need Of the Cities Of Refuge
(2O:1-3).
Justice everywhere cried IAN eye
for an eye" "a tooth for a TOOTH"
Blood for blood" and the avenger of
blood was charged with the duty Of
satisfying this cry. While Justice
should not be allowed to miscarry 1t
ls most important that there be mercy
shown. Sometimes just men forget to
be merciful. In order that the inno-
cent be protected and mercy shown to
the unfortunate and yet justice be
done. the cities Of refuge were author
lied. It was not scheme by
which the criminal was screened from
Justice, but provision whereby the
innocent was protected.
III. Regulations Touching the Cities
Of Refuge (20:4-6).
i. The right of entrance not to be
/ denied ". ~. 1t was obligatory upon
the rulers Of the city to admit upon de-
mand the one who fed hither; pending
q trial which would disclose the fact
as to whether the crime had been In
territorial or not.
2. The security of the one who en-
tered the city ". 81. The rulers Of the
city did not dare to deliver the man
slayer to the avenger of blood for pun
ishment until fair trial had been
given; neither could the avenger cross
over the threshold Of the city to touch
4 hair Of the one who had taken refuge
In 1t.
8. The right Of fair trial ". 81. This
provision of mercy made it SO that
the refugee could be safe while care
ful investigation was made as to
whether he had killed "unwittingly"
or by wicked purpose. II 1t should be
proved that the man was guilty of
murder he was delivered over by the
authorities to the avenger Of blood that
Justice might be done.
4. The innocent slayer must remain
in the city ". 81. Even though the
trial should exonerate him from inten-
!. tional killing, yet he must remain in
the city In order to be saved. So grave
60, <1,n osOk of toll hun Ia hot
even the innocent man was obliged to
be separated from his home and
friends at least until the death Of the
high priest. This deprivation enforced
the obligation to shield life.
III. The Appointment Of the Cities
Of Refuge. (20:7-9).
1. On the west side Of Jordan ". ~.
~ Kedesh in Naphtali on the north;
d(2) Shechem in Mt. Ephraim in the
center; lS) Hebron in the south.
2. On the east side of Jordan ". 81.
~ Golan in Bashan on the north;
(2) Ramoth- Gilead in Cad in the CEN
ter; (3) Beer in Reuben in the south.
In this distribution there was place
Of safety accessible to all. These cities
were not only in reach, but good roads,
well marked, led to them so that the
refugee might reach place of safety
before being overtaken (Deut. 19).
This beautifully illustrates the ref
uge which the sinner has in Christ:
~ It's necessity. Since by accident
or wicked purpose men did KILL In Or
der to be saved from the avenger these
cities of necessity were appointed. All
have sinned and are exposed to the
wrath of God, therefore If any be
saved place Of safety must be pro-
vided In Christ. (2) This provision
was by divine appointment "Of him
q are We In Christ Jesus" Il Cor. 1 :30).
(3) The cities We're accessible to all.
They were 80 distributed that
wherever the unfortunate circum-
stance should occur the slayer could
Zee to the city before being overtaken.
Christ is not far off. The Bible shows
what great effort God makes to save
men. az The one who fled to the city
was secure. The avenger did not dare
cross over the threshold Of the city.
Every one who is In Christ is secure.
No one can lay anything to the charge
Of Gods elect 90 The individual
must fee to the city. The manslayer
would be exposed to danger II he re-
NAMED at home or outside Of the city.
The sinner, II he would be saved, must
come to Christ. There Is no place Of
safety for those who remain away.
The safety In Christ is even more vital
than that in these cities. To him the
guilty can flee with the assurance OF
Aafety.
The Only Riches.
The only riches one possesses IL
what one gives.--Martialis
H. aL>uanr