Joshua 20-21
JOSHUA 20
CITIES OF REFUGE
1 The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge (Num 35.11,14; 1 Chron 6.67), whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: 3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly (without premeditation or accidentally) may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. 5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. 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.
7 ¶ And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. 8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
In this chapter we find that God is instructing Joshua to set up cities of refuge. After the flood, God laid down a basic rule to Noah that anyone who murderously shed the blood of others should pay for their crime with their own blood
Ge 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
But God made a distinction between premeditated murder, and what today we call manslaughter or a crime of passion, which is the unpremeditated killing of another person.
If the death wasn't premeditated, or if a person killed someone by accident, the slayer could seek refuge in the sanctuary of the tabernacle, physically holding onto the altar as a place of safety and protection.
Ex 21:12-14 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. But if a man come presumptuously (premeditation) upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
This arrangement worked well during the forty years that the nation of Israel wandered in the wilderness, and during the seven years of military conquest in Canaan, because the tabernacle was physically at the center of that nation. Thus, any Israelite could flee into the tabernacle and find a place of refuge there.
But once the tribes were settled throughout the land of Canaan in their respective tribal inheritances, they needed places of refuge that were scattered out among them.
So we see here in Joshua 20.2; 6, 7 that God ordained six cities of refuge, places of compassion, where anyone who had killed another person unintentionally could flee. In Israelite society there was no police force to investigate crimes. It was the moral responsibility of the family member who was closest to the victim to investigate and avenge the murder. In our text, he is called the avenger of blood 3 times. The only other reference to the avenger of blood is in Deut 19.12.
But this avenger of blood’s own emotional subjectivity, passion, and anger at the loss of their family member would tend cloud their judgment on how to act. Due to the emotion of the loss of a loved one, they might not want to go to the trouble to figure out whether it was an accidental killing or whether in fact it was premeditated murder. In fact, they might end up avenging the death by indiscriminately killing someone who wasn't guilty of a capital crime. That's why these cities of refuge were needed.
Verse 7 lists the three cities west of the Jordan from north to south, and verse 8 lists the three cities east of the Jordan from south to north.
I. Thoughts concerning the Cities of Refuge.
A. They were to be strategically located so that there would be easy access to them for anybody (whosoever) seeking refuge.
1. The land of Israel is only about the size of the state of Maryland, so nobody could ever be very far away from a city of refuge.
2. God commanded that the nation build highways to these cities of refuge.
De 19:3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.
3. History tells us that these highways were to be maintained so that nobody was ever hindered in getting to these cities.
4. Bridges were to be built across every ravine that the highways came to, so that the person running for refuge wouldn't have to waste time climbing to the bottom of the ravine and then up the other side.
5. The highways were supposed to be rebuilt every spring after the heavy winter rains so that the road surface would be smooth and easy to run on.
6. At every crossroads or intersection on these highways, there were to be big, bold signs pointing the way with the word REFUGE in large letters.
B. The gates of the cities of refuge were never to be locked.
1. 24 hour access was important, if you were on the run from an avenger of blood!
2. That was because if someone had run for thirty or forty miles to get to the city, and then they couldn't get in there wouldn't be a refuge!
C. The city was to be well stocked to provide for any fugitives who came to stay for however long they might need to be there.
1. It was not only a place of guaranteed legal protection…
2. But also a place of material provision for all their needs!
3. Housing and food was available for them.
D. Refuge was only guaranteed as long as they remained in the city.
1. If the person left the city, the avenger could take their life.
2. If they went outside the city once they got there, the city could do nothing to protect them.
Nu 35:26-28 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: 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.
E. The cities were designated for all the people of Israel, including the stranger (Gentile).
1. The same justice, the same protection and provision, the same atoning grace were free to all.
2. What God was doing in establishing these cities of refuge was setting the wheels in motion for what would ultimately be due process of law.
3. Our present legal system finds its roots in this kind of Biblical teaching that declares that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
4. Until everything was investigated by the elders and justice was handed down in a full hearing before the entire congregation, the person who fled for refuge enjoyed the security of presumed innocence.
II. The Application for Us
A. Jesus is our Refuge.
Ps 61:3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
B. The similarities between the asylum found in these cities and the refuge of our personal salvation in Jesus Christ is striking.
1. We understand that we are guilty before God….'there is none righteous, no not one'
2. But we are invited to come to Jesus for refuge.
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
C. Consider the similarities.
1. Remember, there had to be easy access to the cities of refuge: Jesus Christ is the same for us.
a. We can always come to him anyplace, anytime.
b. His arms are open for us, he is receptive and waiting.
c. David wrote in Psalm 34:18,
Ps 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
d. He is totally accessible when we acknowledge our desperate need, when our spirit is broken over our sin.
2. The gates of the cities of refuge were never to be locked.
a. It's the same picture for us when we come to Jesus Christ.
b. We don't have to worry about finding some weird combination of religious locks and keys to come to Jesus.
c. The doors are always wide open.
d. Jesus said, "I am the door"
e. That door is never locked!
3. The cities of refuge provided the physical resources of food and a place for the fugitive.
a. Jesus Christ is our totally sufficient refuge.
b. He is everything we need to sustain us.
Eph 1:7-8 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
c. He is the bread of life and the living water.
4. The only place to find protection from the avenger of blood was in the city of refuge.
a. A person could be sorry for what happened, but if they were anyplace else besides the city of refuge, it wouldn't matter.
b. And if we don't flee to the refuge that God has provided us in Christ Jesus, there is no spiritual asylum for us, no salvation apart from him.
c. Remember, 'there is none other name' other than the name of Jesus!
5. The city was a refuge for all people, no limitations.
a. Jesus invites all…whosoever will may come.
b. Aren't you thankful that the Way is made available to all who will come by faith?
The cities were only a shadow of the true refuge that is available in Christ. Once we trust in Christ we are eternally secure in Him! What a wonderful picture God gives us in this 20th chapter of Joshua.
There is only one place to find the needed refuge. People all around us are looking for a place of safety and security. We must point them to Christ.
Listen to these words from CHS:
AVENGER OF BLOOD….SPURGEON
It is said that in the land of Canaan, cities of refuge were so arranged, that any man might reach one of them within half a day at the utmost. Even so the word of our salvation is near to us; Jesus is a present Saviour, and the way to him is short; it is but a simple renunciation of our own merit, and a laying hold of Jesus, to be our all in all. With regard to the roads to the city of refuge, we are told that they were strictly preserved, every river was bridged, and every obstruction removed, so that the man who fled might find an easy passage to the city. Once a year the elders went along the roads and saw to their order, so that nothing might impede the flight of any one, and cause him, through delay, to be overtaken and slain. How graciously do the promises of the gospel remove stumbling blocks from the way! Wherever there were by-roads and turnings, there were fixed up hand-posts, with the inscription upon them—“To the city of refuge!” This is a picture of the road to Christ Jesus. It is no roundabout road of the law; it is no obeying this, that, and the other; it is a straight road: “Believe, and live.” It is a road so hard, that no self-righteous man can ever tread it, but so easy, that every sinner, who knows himself to be a sinner may by it find his way to heaven. No sooner did the man-slayer reach the outworks of the city than he was safe; it was not necessary for him to pass far within the walls, but the suburbs themselves were sufficient protection. Learn hence, that if you do but touch the hem of Christ’s garment, you shall be made whole; if you do but lay hold upon him with “faith as a grain of mustard seed,” you are safe.
“A little genuine grace ensures
The death of all our sins.”
Only waste no time, loiter not by the way, for the avenger of blood is swift of foot; and it may be he is at your heels at this still hour of eventide. If any of you have yet to trust Christ alone for your salvation, flee to Him tonight.
JOSHUA 21
CITIES OF LEVITES
Jos 21:1 ¶ Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; 2 And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle. 3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.
In Joshua 21, we find that God also set aside forty-eight cities for the tribe of Levi and scattered them throughout the nation.
There were three families of the Levites, Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. God did not intend for the tribe of Levi to have their own territorial allotment. He scattered them through the nation in all these different cities. The Levites made their request based on the Word of God previously given by Moses.
· Nu 35:2 Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
o These cities and suburbs are recorded here in verses 4-42, and for times sake, I ask that you take the time to read those verses for yourself.
Lest we think that God is being 'unfair' with the tribe of Levi, remember that He is sovereign. He does what He chooses to do, and He is always holy and righteous. He never makes a mistake, nor does He sin. It is not a part of His nature and character. So God had a plan and purpose for the Levites, and for the Levitical cities.
I. Levites: Called to worship
A. Review the purpose of the tribe of Levi
1. All throughout the forty years of the wilderness period of Israel's history, the tribe of Levi primarily served the worship life of the nation.
2. They always camped the closest to the tabernacle, literally surrounding the tabernacle as it moved through the wilderness.
3. They were gifted by God to minister to The Lord and His people in the tabernacle.
4. The Levites had responsibility for transporting the ark of the covenant from place to place. Even those who moved the furniture of the tabernacle had to be called by God to do it.
5. Remember, when the nation crossed the Jordan River, it was the Levites who stood all day in the bed of the Jordan River and held the Ark of the Covenant high.
6. The Levites were in charge of maintaining the tabernacle itself with all its cords and curtains and coverings.
7. They had responsibility for all of the sacred furniture of the tabernacle, all the vessels for worship and sacrifice, and all the poles and boards and bars that held the tent up.
B. The purpose of the Levites, now that they were in the Promised Land.
1. The tabernacle wasn't moving anymore; it was going to be settled first in Shiloh and later in Jerusalem.
2. They would serve in the temple, that place of unified corporate worship in the life of the nation.
3. They would assist in all of the great annual feasts and festivals, the high holy days for the nation.
4. They would lead musical worship in great choirs and orchestras, and become composers of psalms and hymns of praise for the nation.
5. They would be part of the sacrificial system as the problem with sin was dealt with in the life of the nation.
C. But why scatter them throughout the nation?
1. We see from Joshua 21, that God intended them to live in cities throughout the nation.
2. God didn't want the Levites concentrated around Shiloh, or eventually around Jerusalem.
3. Why? God ordained this so that they could model worship as a lifestyle and teach it as they traveled back and forth between their hometowns and the temple.
4. In addition to their worship leadership, they were to become living examples to the rest of the nation.
5. It made clear that the Levites didn't own the forty-eight Levitical cities or the grazing land around the cities.
6. They simply were to live in those cities side-by-side with the members of the tribes that owned the respective territories.
II. Levites: Called to nurture
A. The second ministry of the Levites in the land was that of nurture, or the teaching of the Law.
De 33:10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.
1. They were to influence each tribe to be faithful to the Lord.
2. So the Levites became the teachers and counselors.
3. In effect, they were ministering the Word of God to all of the tribes.
4. These forty-eight Levitical cities became centers of teaching about God's covenant relationship with His people.
5. They were places where people like Rahab and her family, converts who needed understanding of the Israelite faith, could come to be initiated into the important truths of what it meant to be a people in relationship with God.
2Ch 17:9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
B. This was a very important aspect of their ministry.
1. The common people didn't have copies of the Scriptures available to them.
2. So it was important that the Levites be able to explain the sacred Scriptures to the people and identify with them.
3. These Levitical cities scattered throughout the nation were located such that nobody would ever be too far away from a place where they could have the Scriptures explained to them.
III. Levites: Called to witness and offer refuge
A. Witness to the Heathen.
1. If you look at a map of Canaan and note that the cities formed sort of an oval around the center of the nation.
2. Remember that under Joshua the Israelites had conquered the central section north to south, but there were frontier lands remaining that completely surrounded the nation.
3. These lands were inhabited by the Philistines on the Mediterranean Sea coast, the Sidonians in the north by Tyre and Sidon, and the Amalakites and the Midianites in the desert.
4. God chose not to cluster the cities of the Levites in the center where it was safe and secure, but he scattered them out on the frontiers.
5. The geography suggests that these cities were to be cities of witness, constantly reminding the unbelieving nations all around Israel about the God who had saved that nation out of bondage in Egypt, sustained them in the wilderness, brought them into the land, and led them in the conquest of the land he gave them.
B. All of the cities of refuge were also designated as cities of the Levites.
1. Part of the Levitical ministry was to guarantee safety and due process of law to those who fled to these cities for refuge.
2. Six cities of refuge, but forty-eight Levitical cities.
3. I find that interesting…more important than man's relationship to one another is his relationship to God!
IV. The Application for Our Local Church
A. We are to be a place of worship.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
1. Something unique happens when we all gather together as people of God, praising and worshiping, praying together, and being challenged through the Scriptures.
2. What a tremendous privilege it is for a child of God to be an active part of the local church. The local church is a means given by God for the spiritual growth of every single member.
3. The Bible teaches us that our worship is to so impact us that our individual lives become instruments of worship and praise of God.
B. We are to be a place of spiritual nurture.
1. The local church is designed by God to be a place for Biblical teaching, training, counseling, and equipping for ministry.
2. Every believer needs to make a decision to be an active part of the local church if they intend to grow and mature in Christ. Every single piece of the tabernacle was sacred to God and had an important place to fill.
3. The local church provides an opportunity for fellowship and personal contact with others, which is something that you cannot get from a book, radio, or television…it's only when we come together in The Name of Jesus that we find that necessary nurturing.
C. We are to be a place of witness to people in our community who don't yet know Christ. God intends that the church be visible and that the world be able to see what the church is really like.
1. Evangelism is not an option it is the clear mandate of our Lord Jesus that is mentioned at the end of every Gospel account.
2. Like the Levites were placed to be a witness to the unsaved nations around them, we are to be a presence in our communities for Christ.
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
3. When we get close to people in our communities, and they are able to get close to us, they're going to see the credibility of our witness because of our Christ-likeness, or they'll see the hypocrisy of our lives!
D. Finally, we are to be a place of safety and security.
1. There are many people today, both Christian and non-Christian, who do not see the local church as a place of refuge. Every single week, there are people who walk through those doors who are hurting, seeking refuge…looking for a place they can feel secure.
2. If we do not make the efforts to break away from our personal group of friends and reach out to them, chances are that they will walk away concluding that this is a place where they can be loved, understood, and accepted, where they can be at home. We must work at this beloved, because this is contrary to our comfort zones. Each and every one of us need to make the effort to seek out those who come through our doors in The Name of Jesus Christ.
3. Yes, we do need that personal interaction amongst ourselves as well. I love the social interaction that takes place among the flock here at KF, but we must seek to break out of our “group” and embrace others in the flock as well.
Jos 21:43 ¶ And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. 44 And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
· Beloved, take the time after the service or during the week to read and meditate on verse 45. As I look back over my old notes and notes in my Bibles over the past 36 going on 37 years, I have discovered one thing…no matter what the trial…no matter what the problem….no matter what the need…God has brought every single one of His promises to pass. May The Spirit of God keep us on our knees when dealing with issues or problems instead of making knee jerk, fleshly reactions…..Beloved, Jesus is our Refuge and Strength…He is The Promise Keeper….love Him, serve Him, adore Him, worship Him.