The Dermott news., 1919-03-13
LESSON FOR MARCH Is
THE CITIES OF REFUGE.

LESSON TEXT-Ioshua 2o
 GOLDEN TEXT- Blessed are the mer. citul for they shall obtain nsercy.-Mat- lhew 61
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Numbers S Deuteronomy l4
 PRIMARY ToF1G-Proteetins the un- fortunate
 INTERMFpIATE TOPIC - Treatment Of uninteHtional offenders.
 SENIOR ANb ADULT T0PIC-our re- spous.hiitty toward offenders.
 |. The Need of the Cities of Refuge (oOI.3.
 Justice everywhere cried "Au eye fer an eye. "A tooth for a tooth" "l5nod for hlead and the ayeaeer of blood WIS charged with the duty of satisfying this cry. While justice should nnt he allowed to miscarry 1t ls most important chat there he mercy shown. Sometimes Just men forget to be mercifut In order that the inno- cent be protected and mercy shown to the unfortunate and yet justice be done the cities af refuge were author zei II was not scheme by which the criminal was screened from justice. but provision whereby the innocent WAS protected
 IT, Regulations Touching the Cities of Refuge t2a sl6l
 | The right of entrance not to be denied tv. n II was obligatory upon lhe rulers of the city to admit upon de maud the one who fled hjther, pending Id .gf as to whether the crime had been IT. tentional or not.
 z The security of thc one Wha en- tered the city s. 5). The rulers ef the city did uat dare to deliver the man slayer to the avenger of blood for pun ,shmeut until fair trial had been 2Iven neither eauld the ayeHser cross over the threshold ot the etsy to= touch a hair of the oue who had taken refuge In it,
 3 The right of fair trial (v.G). This provision of mercy made if so that the refugee could be safe whiie care full Investigation was made aS to whether he had killed "unWittiagly" ar by wicked purpose If it should be proved that the man was guilty of murder he Was delivered over hy the authorities to the avenEcr of blood that justice might he done.
 4 The innocent slayer must remain In the city (y @. Even though the trial should exonerate him from inten- tionnl killing. yet he must remain In the city In order to be saved. Sc grave Is the act of taking 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 Appointment of the Citles of Refuge (2o.7Q)
 l. On the west side of Jordan (v. O. CD kedesh in Naphtnli on the north; t2) Shechem in Nil. Ephruim in the center. (S) Hebron in the south.
 2 On the east side of Jordan tv. g n Golan In BasAan on the north: -J K&moth Gilead In Cad in tbe cen fer. t3l Be2er IL Reuben iu the snuth. In thlS distribution lhyre wa, place of safety arC,ssi6le to au These cities Were uot only .n reach. hu, good roads. wei marAe4 led to tarn Sa that the refugee m.cht reaeh B p.see of safety before being e1estabeo Ueut. t0.
 This hcuuaea.y Illustrates fhc r1f- age which tAe-sHa.e ha, n C44>t. dD It's necessity. Su,r by accident IF wicked purpose #eu d i 5lll. ia or Jar 10 be saYs5 t55sa tfr aYcezer these -!ttes of necessity We're aIf5azel All have sILuef aa5 are rzi sud Jo ihe wrath of aaa. therefore if any he saved pIaer of sufety mast te pro sided .u Christ l9 Tna provision was by divine aTHoutwut eef him are ye !a Ghast Je=Hs' q Gae l .3aA. tS) The cffies Were nccr>>tH!e te all They We're SO distributed That wherever the aafortIuate eireHm- stance shou5d of5Hr the ~ayer could aec to the.eity before hetuE oYerfaken- christ k nef far eg The Eible shows what great cfart God makes h save men t4 The me uhp fled io the city Was secure. The ayenEer did hot dare cross over the threshold ot the city. Every oue Wha is in Christ k secure No one can lay anything to the charge of Gods elect (5) The individual must fee to the city The mansluyer would he exposed to danger If he re- malned at home pr outside of the city. The sinner if he would be saved must come to Christ There is no place of safety 'or those who remain away. The safety in Christ Is even more vital than that sn these cities. To him the guilty can flee with the assurance of safety
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