The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-03-06
LESSON FOR MARCH 16
the CITIES OF REFUGE.

LESSON TENT-Joshua 20
GOLDEN TENT-B Blessed are the mer.
cifui Tor they shall obtain mercy Mat.
thew ST.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL 90 Number.
o. Deuteronomy ~
PRIMARY ToPic-Protectins the un.
fortunate
INTERMEDIATES TOPIC - Treatm.n,
Of unintentional offenders
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Our re-
spcnsihiity toward offenders
L. The Need OF the cities Of Refuo.
(20:i-3).
Justice everywhere cried "Ap eve
for an eye" "a tooth for n tooth Z"
BLOOD for blood" ana the nvenger Of
blood was charged with the duty of
satisfying this cry. While iustice
should not be allowed 10 miscarry II
Is most important that there be mercy
shown. Sometimes just men forget ~
be merclful. In order that the inno
cent be protected and mercy shown to
the unfortunate and yet justice b.
done the cities OF refuge were author
lied. II was not scheme by
which the criminal was screened from
Justice. but provision whereby IN,
kSpnocent was protected
u. Regulations Touching the Cities
OF Refuge GO 400.
/. The right OF entrance not to he
denied ". -. II was obligatory upou
the rulers OF the CITY 10 admit upnn de.
mand the one who fed hither. pending
trial which would disclose the fact
as 90 whether the crime had been In
territorial or not
2. The security ~ the one who en-
tered the city ". -. The rulers Of th,
city did not dare to deliver the man
slayer to the Hvenger Of blood for pun
ishment until fair trial had been
given: neither could the avenger cross
over the threshold OF the city to touch
hair Of the one who had taken refuge
In H.
3. The right ~ fair trial ". G). This
provision Of mercy made II 80 that
the refugee could be safe while care.
full Investigation was made rs 70
whether he had killed "unwittingly" |
or by wicked purpose. II II should b, /
proved that the man was guilty Of /
murder he was delivered over by N, /
authorities 10 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
uonal killing. yet he must remain In
the city In order To be- saved So grave
Ia the net 81 taking II human life that
even the innocent man was obliged t.
hta al ]
friends nc least until the death Of the
high priest This deprivation enforced
the obligation 10 shield life.
~. The Appointment OF the Cities
Of Refuge GO :7.9).
!. On the west side OF Jordan ". ~
G) kedesh In Nnphtali on the north
(2) Shcchem In Mt. Ephraim In the
center; CD Hebron In the south.
.. On the east side Of Jordan ". 81
U) Golan In Bashan on the north
(2) Ramoth-Gilead In Cad In the cen
ter; CD Beer In Reuben In the south /
In this distribution there was place
OF safety accessible to all These cities
were not only In reach. hut good roads
well marked. led TO them 50 that the
refugee might reach n place Of safety
before being overtaken (Deut. l9).
This beautifully illustrates the ref.
uge which the sinner has in Christ:
O It's necessity Since by accident
or wicked purpose men did XIII. IN or
der 20 be saved from ne avenger these
cities Of necessity were appolnted All
have sinned and are exposed 10 the
wrath OF God. therefore II any b, !
saved n place Of safety must be pro. ,
vided In Christ. (2) This provision
was by divine appointment "of him
are ye I'm Christ Jesus" q Cor. I 800
CD The cities were accessible TO all. =
They were so distributed that O
wherever the unfortunate crcum-
stance should occur the slayer could D
flee to the city before being overtakeD.
Christ Is not far of. The Bible shows h
what great effort God makes TO save r
men. ca The one who fled to the ciry
was secure. The avenger did not dare u
cross over the threshold OF the city. u
Every one who Is In Christ Is secure
No one can lay anything 10 the charge n
OF Gods elect. t5) The Individual G.
must fee to the city. The manslayer
would be exposed 10 danger II he re p
NAMED at home or outside Of the city.
The sinner, II he would be saved. must
come TO Christ There Is no place OF IN
safety for those who remain away. .,
The safety In Christ Is even more vital an
than that In these cities. To him the a,
guilty can fee with the assurance OF a,
An fetv