The Dolores star., 1919-03-14
LESSON FOR MARCH 1e
the CITIES OF REFUGE.

LESSON TExT-Joshua 20
GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed are the mer-
cifui: for they shall obtain mercy.-Mat-
thew 6:7.
ADDITIONAL Numbers
Is; Deuteronomy 49,
PRIMARY ToPIC-ProtectinE the I'M
fortunate.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC Treatment
Of unintentional offenders.
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Our r..
sponsibility toward offenders,
!. The Need Of the Cities Of Refuge
(2O:1-3).
Justice everywhere cried "An eye
for an eye" "A tooth for 4 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 It
Is most important that there be mercy
shown. Sometimes Just men forget to
he merciful. In order that the limo.
cent be protected and mercy shown to
the unfortunate and yet justice be
done the cities Of refuge were author
lied. 1t was not scheme By
which the criminal was screened from
Justice. but provision whereby the
Innocent was protected.
u. Regulations Touching the cities
Of Refuge go :4-6).
l. 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
a trial which would disclose the fact
as to whether the crime had been In
territorial or not.
=. 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
hair Of the one who had taken refuge
in 1t
s. The right OF fair trial ". Co. 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. If it 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
IS The act of taking human life that
even the innocent man was obliged to
he 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 20:7-0).
/. On the west side Of Jordan ". y.
~ Kedesh In Naphtali on the north
(2) Shechem In Mt. Ephraim in the
renter; (3) Hebron in the south.
.. On the east side of Jordan ". 81
"a Golan in Bashan on the north
t2) Ram0th- Gilead In Cad In the cen
ter; (3) Rezer 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
we'll marked, led to them so that the
refugee might reach n place OF safety
before being overtaken (Deut. 1o).
This beautifully illustrates the ref
uge which the sinner hns in Christ
% It's necessity. Since by acciden
or wicked purpose men did kill, In or
der to be saved from the avenger thes'
cities Of necessity were appointed. Al
snI tn 4.
wrath of God. therefore II any b'
saved place of safety must be pro
yidcd in Christ. (2J This provision
was by divine appointment. "Of hin
ARE We In Christ Jesus" Il Cor. 300
t3) The cities were accessible to all
They were so distributed tina
wherever the unfortunate circum
stance should occur the slayer coul'
flee to the city before being Overtaken
Christ Is not far off. The Bible show
what great effort God makes to saw
men. az The one who fled to the cit
was secure. The avenger did not dar
cross over the threshold Of the city
Every one who is In Christ Is secure
No one can lay anything to the charg
OF Gods elect. (5) The individual
must flee TO the city. The manslaye
would be exposed to danger II he re
manned at home or outside OF the city
The sinner II he would be saved. mus
come to Christ. There Is no place Q
safety for those who remain ava!
The safety In Christ Is even more vitf
than that In these cities. To him tn
guilty can flee with the assurance G
safety.
r.. N.l. niehaa