Sat.’s Devo - Cities of Refuge -

Read: Joshua 19:1-20:9; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88:1-18; Proverbs 13:12-14 The tribes of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan received their land and their towns. Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim and was promised by the Lord that he could have any town he wanted. He chose Timnath-serah which means “abundant portion”. *** The Lord told Joshua to designate six cities as cities of refuge. If anyone accidentally killed someone, they could run to one of these cities and plead their case to the elders at the gate. The slayer must be allowed to live safely there and receive a fair trial. When the avenger of the one who was murdered comes to kill him, they must not release the man to them since he did not kill with intent. The slayer must stay in that city until his trial has been decided. Then he must continue to live there until the death of the high priest. Then he can go safely back to his home. *** This is a picture of salvation. We are all guilty of murder. It was our sin that killed Christ. We murder with our tongues and our judgements. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Jesus is our city of refuge. The law is the avenger of blood that says we all must die for our sins. We are set free when we go to Jesus for our refuge and let his death set us free. *** Here is a list of the cities of refuge and what they mean: Kedesh in Galilee- “an enclosed sanctuary”; Shechem in Ephraim - “shoulder for their abundance”; Hebron in Judah - “communion in praise”; Bezer in Reuben - “the first born of God are weapons”; Ramoth in Gilead in Gad- “an army of eternal witnesses”; Golan in Bashan in Manasseh “their rejoicing because their shame has been forgotten”. All of these describe the redeemed. *** In Luke, Jesus was getting closer and closer to Jerusalem. At the towns of Bethphage and Bethany he sent his disciples to get a donkey for him to ride into the city. Kings would ride on a donkey into the town they will reign. Zechariah prophesied, 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. *** The people sang and praised Jesus as their king, but the Pharisees rebuked Jesus for receiving their praise. Jesus told the Pharisees that if they didn’t praise him, the rocks would. *** Jesus saw Jerusalem from afar and lamented how he wished they had understood that he was the way to peace. But, because they did not receive him and the peace he was bringing, Jerusalem would be destroyed. *** Jesus entered the Temple and began driving out the people selling animals, again. He told them that they had turned God’s house of prayer into a den of thieves. Jesus then taught the people much, to the dismay of the priests and teachers of the law. The people loved his teaching, but the leaders wanted to kill him. *** Lord, thank you that you have given us a refuge in Jesus. Thank you for saving us, redeeming us and giving us your peace. May we be spreaders of your peace and salvation.