Josué 20

Josué 20

Wesley wrote one of his most famous hymns, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” Before, during and after trouble arrives, run to Jesus who loves you dearly.(Peter Kennedy - Preaching Illustrations Vol.1) James Smith - THE CITIES OF REFUGE; OR, CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRIST AS A SAVIOUR Joshua 20 “I am safe, for Christ holds me; Comforted, for I hold Him; Saviour, O thus let it be, When my dying eyes are dim; I held of Thee, Thee holding, Thy strong love me enfolding.” It takes all the cities of refuge to form a perfect type of the “Man who is an hiding-place from the storm and a covert from the tempest.” Observe the— I. Nature of their Appointment. It was— 1. DIVINE. The Lord said: “Appoint out for you cities of refuge.” These cities then were sanctified, or set apart for their sakes, according to the will of God. They undoubtedly point to Christ (Heb. 6:18), who for our sakes sanctified (set apart) Himself, according to the will of God. It surely would be a consolation to the refugee when he entered the city to know that he was in God’s appointed shelter. So we may have strong consolation who have fled for refuge. There is no safety but in being where and what God would have us to be. 2. MERCIFUL. They had respect specially to the murderer. How gracious is the Lord to think of such, and make provision for all who truly felt their need of present mercy and righteous protection! These each city afforded, these each sinner sorely needs, and this is what we find in Jesus. Mercy to pardon, grace to help, and the power of justice to protect. He is the Justifier of every one that believes in Jesus. As guilty sinners we need more than mere shelter, we need righteous justification, and Christ is all this. II. Significance of their Names. In looking over the meaning of the names of these cities one is struck with the distinctive characteristic of each, as showing forth some particular feature of the character of Christ, and when taken as a whole illustrating the sufficiency of Christ as a Refuge to meet all our need and the need of all. 1. KEDESH (holy place). A Refuge for the Unclean. The holiness of Jesus and the sinfulness of man are at once suggested here. None of these truths can be denied, both are alike clearly taught in Scripture. The holiness of Jesus Christ becomes the hope of the unclean. Only that which is clean can cleanse. The unrighteous can only find refuge in the righteousness of God. Christ’s finished work affords a holy hiding-place, for there only are the unclean made holy. There is no cleansing for the unclean apart from the fountain opened for sin (Zech. 13:1). 2. SHECHEM (shoulder). A Refuge for the Weary. The lost sheep found both safety and rest upon the Shepherd’s shoulders (Matt. 11:28; Luke 15:5). He is a Saviour, and a strong one. “The government is upon His shoulders.” We can find no rest in ruling ourselves, but the weary can find rest under His government. When we trust we lean not only on His merit, but also on His almightiness, or rather His almighty merit. When on the shoulder the strength of the carrier is beneath us. What a refuge for the weary child is the shoulder of its loving father! Christ has borne our burden upon His shoulder, as Samson carried the gates of Gaza. 3. HEBRON (fellowship). A Refuge for the Homeless. Man is spiritually a homeless wanderer, like Noah’s dove. Outside the ark, no rest, no fellowship, no safety. The homeless prodigal found a refuge in the father’s house and in the father’s fellowship. “Let us eat,” etc. Jesus Christ is the only Hebron for the soul. No fellowship with the Father but through Him (1 John 1:3). This is not the refuge of a lonely prison, but in the bosom of a loving and beloved one. What a refuge the sailor’s home is from a dangerous voyage, or the family ingle to a benighted and bewildered pilgrim. So Jesus is to the soul a refuge of love and communion (John 17:21). 4. BEZER (stronghold). A Refuge for the Helpless. Man is not only a sinner, he is also helplessly sinful. In the case of the manslayer there was to be no such thing as self-protection, so is it with us as sinners. We are “without strength.” The Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous fleeth into it and are safe. Flee from the justice of God into the mercy of God. The mercy of God in Christ is a stronghold that can never give way. No matter how helpless you are, here you are eternally safe. Jesus is the only Bezer, all other hiding-places will fail and fall like the walls of Jericho, though straitly shut up (Matt. 7:27). 5. RAMOTH (exalted). A Refuge for the Hopeless. By nature we are not only without strength, but without hope in the world (Eph. 2:12). Those who hope in the world have no hope. We must hope out of the world. He is our Hope, exalted at the Father’s right hand with a name above every name, high and lifted up. Jesus is our Ramoth. If you are downcast, and feeling yourself hopeless in the world, look up. Jesus is a Refuge for you. “I, if I be lifted up, will draw.” Flee to Him to hide you, then you are exalted with Him. No mountain could save from the flood; those saved were lifted up in the ark. He is the Ark of hope. 6. GOLAN (separated). A Refuge for the Tempted. Many Christians are tempted much in the world because they tamper much with the world; they have not fled to Jesus as their city of separation. They have not become exiles with Him, and for His sake. Although He says, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and I will receive you,” yet they flee not, and the tempter often overtakes them. He separated Himself for our sakes, that He might succour the tempted. Golan is the last city mentioned. Separation from the world unto God is about the last refuge that is sought after. Jesus must be our All in All if we would be perfectly sheltered from the curse, the world, the flesh, and the devil. Being enfolded with the arms of His almighty power, and resting on the bosom of His infinite love, we can sing with a restful, joyful heart, “God is our Refuge and our Strength.” From these names we may also learn that in Christ we have: (1) Holiness, (2) Rest, (3) Fellowship, (4) Safety, (5) Exaltation, (6) Separation. Addendum from Warren