Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-07-02

priest died, and so there came change
in the priesthood, he could leave the
city of refuge and return to his home.
How these cities of refuge preached
to Israel of her need of a divine refuge
for terrible fratricide For she is the
manslayer who has unwittingly slain
her fellowman. the Lord Jesus Christ,
as his prayer at the cross revealed:
Rather forgive them, for they know
not what they do" And the avenger
of blood is the Man of Sin, that dire
enemy of the last days, and for whose
coming the world is making such rapid
preparation.
But the text likens believers In the
Lord Jesus to the manslayer, and upon
the likeness bases our strong consola-
tion. And in Hebrews 9 "a it is written
of the Great High Priest of our con-
fession: ''For Christ is not entered
| into holy places made with hands,
which are the figures of the true, but
into heaven itself, now to appear in
the presence of God for u.s."
The Christians Refuge.
| Behold your security, child of God!
Shut up in the city Of refuge and your
life there depending upon the High
Priest who said, Because I live ye
shall live Also" and of whom it is
written in ROM 5 10, "For if, when
we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much
more, being reconciled, we shall be
saved by his life."
But when will our Great High Priest
die? And Romans 6 g answers "Know-
ing that Christ being raised from the
dead dieth no more; death hath no
more dominion over him." He has left
the grare forever in defeat behind him
and he lives in the presence of God
for US in the power of that endless
life. And thus Hebrews 1925: "And
they truly were many priests, because
they were not suffered to continue by
reason of DEATH" Aaron died, and the
priesthood descended to his sons
Eleazer and Ithamar. These, in turn
died and the priesthood descended to
their sons, and SO on through long
line of priests. 'But this Man. the
next verse tells us-this Man who now
appears for us in heaven-"because he
continueth ever, hath an Interchangeable
priesthood. Wherefore he is able alst
to save them to the uttermost tha
come unto God by him, seeing hs
ever 1iveth to make intercession fol
-them.''
Each of these cities is mentioned b.
name, in the twentieth chapter O.
Joshua, and every name speaks to VI
Of our good portion now in Christ, il
whom we are secure.
The first was Kedesh in Naphtali
the sanctuary of the struggler." Thi
is what our Lord has provided for al
his own by that awful struggle t,
which our sins had put him, so tina
now we struggle no more but rest il
his finished work on our behalf.
The second was Shechem In the hill
country Of EpAraim. shechem mean
shoulder" and Ephraim is fruitful
ness" In this haven Of refuge tha
Christ has provided it is in bowin
the shoulder to receive the yoke o
submission to him that the fruitful
ness for which he looks from us
realized. - TI.5.ss !. T. II III gsssssss,.
The third was Hebron in the hill
country Of Judah. And here are tw
familiar names: Hebron is "com
i munion" and Judah is praise" !
goodly city this, and it is ours! Shu
up here with Christ, it is to enjoy un
, broken communion with him and thu
J to have the overfull heart pour itsel
, out in that sacrifice of praise" wit
which our God is well pleased.
The fourth city was Bezer In th
: wilderness. And what is the wilder
ness? Just what this world has be
come to the heart that has come unde
the power of these divine realities an
+. that knows its place in Christ. Bu
Beer means "riches" and tells us G
our possessions now in Christ that W
| are to enjoy in the wilderness worll
The fifth is Ramoth in. Gilead An
Ramoth means 'the heights" Yes
the heights are ours also, for 'h
hath made US sit together in th
heavenlies," and by thousand voice
he is calling US to have our hearts
that place in which he sees US.
i And last we come to Golan, '.joy,
'sexultation," a fitting name, indeed
with which to end the record, fe
\ knowing our strong consolation an
!. all these blessed things that belong I
us in the cities of refuge our exult,
ton is complete.