Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-03-14
IMPROVED UNIFORM MTERNATIoEaN
SUNDkYSQlOOL,
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER. D. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of -Chicago)
Copyright 1919. by Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR MARCH 16
THE CITIES OF REFUGE.

LESSON TEXT-Joshua 20.
GOLDEN TEXT-BIessed are the mer-
:iful: for they shall obtain mercy.-Mat-
thew ST.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL = Numbers
35; Deuteronomy 49,
PRIMARY TOPIC-Protecting the un-
fortunate.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC - Treatment
Of unintentional offenders
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Our re-
sponsibility toward offenders.
|. The Need of the Cities of Refuge
cobb.
Justice everywhere cried can eye
for an eye" "a tooth for 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
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
zed. 1t was not a scheme by
which the criminal was screened from
Justice, but a provision whereby the
innocent was protected.
II. Regulations Touching the Cities
,f Refuge O:4-6).
1. The right of entrance not to be
denied ". ~. It was obligatory upon
the rulers of the city to admit upon de-
mand the one who fled hither, pending
trial which would disclose the fact
rs to whether the crime had been in
tentional 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
lshment until a fair trial had been
given; neither could the avenger cross
over the threshold of the city to o'touch
hair of the one who had taken refuge
in it.
8. The right of fair trial (v. 81. This
| provision of mercy made it so that
he refugee could be safe while care
Jul 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
| Er, i, : e. IL
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.
Ill. The Appointment of the Cities
sf Refuge (20:7-91.
l. On the west side of Jordan (v. y.
~ Kedesh in NaphtaIi on the north !;
(2) Shechem in Mt. Ephraim in the
center; (3) Hebron in the south.
2. On the east side of Jordan ". 81.
ID Golan in Bashan on the north /;
ter; t3) Beer in Reuben in the south.
In this distribution there was a place
Of safety accessible to ALL These cities
we're 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.
age which the sinner has in Christ
(D It's necessity. Since by accident
or wicked purpose men did kill, in or
der to be saved from the avenger these
sities 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-
gided in Christ. (2) This provision
was by divine appointment. ''Of him
are We in Christ Jesus Il Cor. 1 :30).
| (3) The cities were accessible to all
They were so 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. (5) The individual
must flee to the city. The manslayel
would be exposed to danger if he re
mained at home or outside of the city
The sinner, if he would be saved, mus
come to Christ. There is no place o.
safety for those who remain away
9,I CO fofv in Cbrict iS avon moro vita
than that in these cities. To him thu
guilty can flee with the assurance o1
safety.