Help QuickNav Adv. Options
KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Prior Book Prior Section Back to Commentaries Author Bio & Contents Next Section Next Book
Cite Print
The Blue Letter Bible
← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources

Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Numbers 35:11-12

Choose a new font size and typeface
← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources

Click here to view listing below for Num 32:42

"THE PLACE OF REFUGE"
I. THE CITIES OF REFUGE.
A. Six cities throughout the land, three on either side of Jordan.
1. Located so as to give access to all.
a. It is said that you were never more than a half day's journey.
B. The place of revenge in the eastern culture.
1. Hard for us to understand this mentality.
2. It was a thing of honor or duty.
a. If a member of my family was killed, it was my duty to pursue the killer and kill him.
b. I was to never stop pursuing him.
c. In some cultures, if you could not catch the actual murderer:
1. Kill a member of his family or tribe.
d. This culture still exists in parts of New Guinea today.
C. These cites intended as a place of safety from the avenger for those who had accidentally killed someone.
1. Those guilty of 1st degree murder could find no refuge here.
2. Let us say you were with your friend throwing rocks with your slings.
D. You would be safe as long as you remained within the borders of the city.
1. If you left the city you were no longer safe, but could be killed by the avenger of blood.
2. Your safety depended on your abiding in that city.
II. THESE CITIES IN MANY WAYS ARE A TYPE OF CHRIST.
A. Man has broken the law and the law condemns him to death.
1. Numbers 32. "Be sure your sin will find you out."
2. The wages of sin is death and this punishment is pursuing you.
a. You are now in the process of dying.
b. Should the Lord tarry, the grim reaper will ultimately catch up with each of us.
3. Death is not the final judgment for the sinner.
a. "After that, the judgment." It is appointed unto man...
b. "That certain fearful looking forward to the fiery indignation of God's wrath."
B. God has provided a place of refuge for man, Jesus Christ.
1. He is within easy reach of all of you.
2. You can flee to Him and be safe.
3. In Christ the avenger cannot touch you.
4. As long as you abide in Him, you are safe.
a. The avenger may threaten and accuse.
5. You may ask, "But what if a man does not abide in Christ?"
a. Let's let Him answer that Himself, "If a man abide not in Me. He is cast forth as a branch and is withered. And men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned."
C. There is only one place of refuge for man.
1. If you fled to a city other than a city of refuge, it afforded no protection.
2. People today fleeing to religion, philosophy. They trust in baptism, church attendance, charity.
3. Jesus Christ is our only refuge.
Sermon Notes for Numbers 33:50-56 ← Prior Section
Sermon Notes for Deuteronomy 1:6 Next Section →
Sermon Notes for Leviticus 1-8 ← Prior Book
Sermon Notes for Deuteronomy 1:6 Next Book →
← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources
← Back to all Commentaries
BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV
Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.