“Then ye shall appoint you cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares (Numbers 35.11.)
Introduction. The principle of blood revenge is a deep-seated one in the eastern mind. The custom goes like this. When a man was murdered or killed by chance, his nearest relative must kill his killer. There are two things mentioned in Scripture that God never approved, but did not forbid. One is polygamy. The other is this matter of blood vengeance. But to prevent a man from being slain for killing someone by accident, God provided cities of refuge for him to flee into for security.
(1) An Explanation. The city of refuge was not provided for the murderer. A murderer who fled there would be dragged out, tried, and given over to his avenger. Now here is a type. Sinner, the law of God is the blood avenger against you, for you have broken, or killed, God’s commandments. Now there were six cities of refuge. This is a type of Christ. He is everywhere, always at a convenient distance. Though the city of refuge was only for the innocent, and we are guilty, we may flee to Christ for safety. There we are provided for, and kept secure by divine appointment. The penalty for breaking the law cannot touch us there. In the old Jewish dispensation, if the man reached even to the outskirts of the city of refuge, that was enough. And it is enough for our salvation if we can barely touch the hem of Christ’s garment. “Faith as a grain of mustard seed” is enough. The way to the cities of refuge was kept clear by the elders. This is a picture of the road to Jesus and to heaven. Preachers keep the way open by pointing to Christ and declaring, “Believe and live!”—“Refuge, refuge, refuge!”
(2) An Exhortation. Picture a scene. A man is at work in a field. He accidentally strikes his companion dead with a tool. See the horror in his face! See the corpse lying at his feet! What next! He flies from the field, runs with all his might! He does not stop to kiss his kids or say bye to his wife. Soon the victim’s brother is after him! And then a posse! He is like an animal chased by hounds. See him speeding on for miles with veins bulging! And what! He finally sees the outskirts of the city, his pursuers right on his heels with knives and stones! He leaps over the border, exhausted almost to death, but rejoicing! The pursuers dare not touch him now! He has managed to leap into the kingdom of life! Sinner, this is a picture of you, except you are not innocent, but guilty. O! that God would give you grace to sense the danger you are in! The avenger of blood is after you! If you could see the sword of God’s law, you might quiver to death right where you are. If this avenger gets you, it will not be death merely, but eternal death. Do you know anything about damnation? Wrath? The undying worm? The bottomless pit? You cannot know how dreadful these things are. No, the drunkard still drinks; the swearer still swears, etc. Do not act so foolishly! How foolish to carelessly loiter when the city of refuge is ahead and the avenger of blood is behind! Do not say, “There is no city of refuge for me.” That is a sham despair. And make sure it is Christ you flee to, not the city of baptism or confirmation. Jesus’ blood, his wounds, his agonies, his sufferings, his death, these are the gates and walls of the city of salvation. By the terrors of the law, by the day of judgment, by the wrath to come, by the uncertainty of life, and by the nearness of death, this night flee to Christ!
Selection from Conclusion. “Not only doth the night come on; but, lo! the blood avenger is behind. Already he has slain his thousands. Let the shrieks of souls, already damned, come up in your ears….let the torments of hell amaze you. What! will you stop with such a sword behind you?”
