Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-03-06
LESSON FOR MARCH TO
THE CITIES OF REFUGE.

Vt - 6A--
LESSON TExT-Joshua 20.
GOLDEN TExT-Blessed are the mer-
ciful- for they shall obtain nercy--dae-
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Numbers |
PRIMARY ToPIc-Protecting the un-
of unintentiona1 Offenders.
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Our re- |
sponsibility toward Offenders
!. The Need of the Cities of Refuge
GEO :1-3).
Justice everywhere cried IAN eye
for an eye" "a tooth for TOOTH"
@B1ood 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
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
done 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.
IL. Regulations Touching the Cities
of Refuge GO :46).
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
2. The security of the one who en-
tered the city-(v 81. The rulers of the
city did not dare to deliver the man
slayer to the avenger of blood for pun
ishment until a 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.
8. The right of fair trial (y- 81. This
| provision of mercy made it that
the refugee could be safe while care
| full investi cation 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 (v. g.. 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 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.
III. The Appointments of the Cities
| of Refuge GO :7-9)-
1. On the west side Of Jordan (v. y
| CD 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 (v. 81
| Cd 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 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 peut. 49,
This beautifully illustrates the ref
uge which the sinner has in Christ
Cd 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
are We in Christ Jesus Il Cor. BOD
| CD The cities We're accessible to all
They We're SO distributed that
wherever the unfortunate circum
stance should occur the slayer could
flee to the city before being overtaken
Christ is not far Off The Bible shows
what great effort God makes to save
men (4) 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 manslayel
would be exposed to danger if he re
| manned at home outside of the city
| The sinner, if he would be saved, mus
come to Christ. There is no place OF
| safety for those who remain away
The safety in Christ is even more vita
| than that in these cities. To him the
guilty can flee with the assurance o.
safety.
The Only Riches