The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-03-14
LESSON FOR MARCH is
THE CITIES OF REFUGE.

LESSON TEXT-Joshua 20
GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed are the mer-
ciful: for they shall obtain q srcy.-Mat-
thew ST.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Numbers
Is: Deuteronomy 49,
PRIMARY TOPIC-Protectine the un-
fortunate.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC - Treatment
Of unintentional offenders.
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPlC-Our re-
sponsibility toward offenders.
!. The Need Of the Cities Of Refuge
GO O:1-3).
Justice everywhere cried "An eye
FOR an eye" "A tooth for q TOOTH"
blood was charged with the duty Of
satisfying this cry. While justice
should not be allowed to miscarry 1t
Is 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
lone the cities of refuge were author
lied. 1t was not scheme BY
which the criminal was screened from
Justice, but a provision whereby the
Innocent was protected.
u. Regulations Touching the cltiss
Of Refuge go :4-6).
!. 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
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 ayenger of blood for pun
ishment until fair trial had been
given; neither could the avenger cross
over the threshold of the city to touch
a hair of the one who had taken refuge
In 1t.
3. The right Of fair trial ". 81. This
provision Of mercy made 1t so that
the refugee could be safe while care
full 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 ". o.. Even though the
tional killing, yet he must remain in
the city In order to be saved. So grave
Is the act of taking a human life that
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.
~. The Appointment Of the Cities
Of Refuge go :7-9).
/. On the west side of Jordan ". ".
~ Kedesh In Naphtali on the north !;
(2) Shechem in Mt. Ephraim in the
center; (3) Hebron in the south.
2. On the east side Of Jordan ". 81.
Q) Golan In Bashan on the north; !;
(2) Ramoth- -Gflead in Cad in the CEN
ter; (3) Bezer In Reuben In the south.
In this distribution there was a 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 a place OF safety
before being overtaken (Deut. 19).
This beautifully illustrates the ref
uge which the sinner has in Christ:
az 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 a place Of safety must be pro-
yided in Christ. (2) This provision
was by divine appointment "Of him
are We in Christ Jesus" Il Cor. l :30).
(3) The cities were accessible to all.
They were 50 distributed that
wherever the unfortunate circum-
stance should occur the slayer could
fee to the city before being overtaken.
Christ Is not far of. The Bible shows
what great effort God makes to save
men. az The one who fed 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. (5) The individual
must fee TO the city. The manslayer
would be exposed to danger II he re-
mained at home or outside of the city.
The sinner. II he would he 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 fee with the assurance Of
safety.