The Cities Of Refuge

Temple Baptist Church - 5-22-2011

Numbers 35:9-28

Introduction:

A. One of the most interesting studies in the Bible is that of the Cities of Refuge. Before Israel entered into Canaan, a type of victorious living in Christ, God told Moses to appoint six cites of refuge for the manslayer. When an Israelite killed another person—with the exception of pre-meditated—God gave to the individual a place of refuge. (vs. 11)

B. This refuge was safety from the avenger of blood. That appointment of this avenger rested on the principle of Genesis 9:6, which reads, “whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” The unwritten code of the East conceded to the nearest kinsman of a murdered man the right of avenging the blood that had been shed. (vs. 12)

C. There was no such refuge for the pre-meditated murderer. When the guilty came into the city of refuge, it was only a temporary refuge u until the case could be fairly examined by the magistrates in the presence of the people, or the elders their representatives; and this was done in the city or place where he had done the murder (Joshua 20:4-6). If he was found worthy of death, they delivered him to the avenger that he might be slain (Deuteronomy 19:12); if not, they sent him back to the city of refuge, where he remained till the death of the high priest (Numbers 35:25).

D. These 6 cities are a beautiful type of grace.

1. There Was Grace In Their Position – vs. 13-14

a) Three on the West Bank –Grace in the place of God’s will: Canaan.

b) Three on the East Bank – Grace in the place of man’s compromise: Ruben, Gad, half tribe of Manasseh.

2. There Was Grace In Their Purpose – vs. 15-23

a) A Place For The Manslayer of the Children of Israel – Grace for the Jew.

b) A Place For The Manslayer of the Stranger and Sojourner – Grace for the Gentile.

3. There Was Grace In Their Provision – vs. 24-25

a) A Place of Protection From The Avenger of Blood

b) A Place of Provision Until The Death of The High Priest

E. As the Cities of Refuge were a type of Christ and His protection, we have the very person of Jesus Christ as our Refuge.

Psalms 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalms 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalms 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Psalms 62:7-8 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (8) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psalms 142:4-5 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. (5) I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Isaiah 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

F. Let me give to both you and I a good verse this morning as we look at these cities for a few minutes:

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

G. The Cities Of Refuge are both a type of Christ and a contrast to Christ! There are 7 vivid similarities as well as 7 vivid contrasts, which we will look at.

7 CONTRASTS BETWEEN THE CITIES OF REFUGE AND CHRIST

1. The Manslayer In The City of Refuge Was Not Exempt From Judgment

Joshua 20:6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

The Saint In Christ Is Exempt From Judgment

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

2. The Manslayer In The City of Refuge Could Still Perish

Numbers 35:26-27 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:

The Saint In Christ Will Never Perish

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

3. The Manslayer In The City of Refuge Had Temporal Safety

Numbers 35:28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

The Saint In Christ Has Eternal Safety

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

4. The Manslayer Could Possible Survive Outside of The City of Refuge

Numbers 35:26-27 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:

The Sinner Can Not Possible Survive Outside of Christ

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

5. Once Inside The City, The Manslayer Was Absent From His Home And Longed To Go Back

Numbers 35:28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

Once Inside Christ, The Saint Is At Home And Never Longs To Go Back

Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

6. The City of Refuge Was For The Manslayer, Not The Murderer

Numbers 35:19-21 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. (20) But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die; (21) Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

Jesus Christ Welcomes The Murderer!

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

7. You Could Be Taken Out Of The City Of Refuge By Man

Numbers 35:24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:

No Man Can Take You Out Of Christ’s Hand

John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

7 SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE CITIES OF REFUGE AND CHRIST

1. The Cities Of Refuge Were Appointed Cities

Numbers 35:11-12 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. (12) And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. (None other would do)

Christ Is The Appointed Refuge Of Salvation

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (None other will do)

2. The Cities Of Refuge Were Strategically Placed For Easy Access

Numbers 35:14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

Christ Is Easily Accessible For The Sinner

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

3. The Cities Of Refuge Were There For All

Numbers 35:15 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

Christ Is A Refuge For All Who Will Come To Him

Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

4. There Is Imminent Danger To Both The Manslayer And The Sinner

To The Manslayer – Physical Death

Numbers 35:12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

To The Lost Sinner – Eternal Death

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

5. There Is Immediate Need Of Fleeing For Refuge To Both The Manslayer And The Sinner

To The Manslayer – no promise of escape otherwise

Numbers 35:11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

To The Lost Sinner – no promise of tomorrow

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

6. There Is Immense Folly In Hesitation To Both The Manslayer And The Sinner

To The Manslayer – Death

Numbers 35:12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

To The Lost Sinner – Hell

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

7. There Is Safety To Both The Manslayer And The Sinner

To The Manslayer – Safety From The Avenger Of Death

Numbers 35:25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

To the Sinner – Safety From Satan And Hell

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.