Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Today we are leaving the 12 tribes behind and continuing in our journey through the end of Joshua.

Things that I would be grieved if I failed to cover.

One of those things is the cities of Refuge Found in Joshua 20

Joshua 20

Cities of Refuge

Out of the 48 cities that were given to the Levites 6 of them were chosen to be cities of Refuge.

A literal translation of the Hebrew phrase means “a city of intaking.”

From the very first murder when Cain killed his brother Abel to the first giving of the law when God said, “thou shalt not kill,” God made clear that he valued human life and that he would require a life for alife

In the culture of the OT, in the tribal system, it was the responsibility fo the extended family to execute that judgment.

The Cities of Refuge became those places.

This was not an escape from justice, but a chance to go before an assembly in trial.

You had the chance to be proven innocent of intentional murder.

Twice in verse 3 we find the emphasis “accident or Unintentionally”

And it appears again in V 5

Four major passages in the OT describe the right of asylum and the sanctuary provided by a city of refuge (Exod.

21:12–14; Num.

35:6–34; Deut.

19:1–13; Josh.

20:1–9).

The word accidentally has to do with inadvertent killing such as negligence.

Unintentionally has to do with knowledge of what was going on, basically ignorance that what the killer had done was wrong.

In both cases guilt is not in question but the judgment.

Should they die.

The idea of blood vengeance behind our passage here in Joshua 20 is more limited than the broader idea of the “kinsman-redeemer” the avenger of blood was not free to take private vengeance: the bible clearly reserves vengeance to God alone (Deut.

32:35; Isa 34:8; Rom 12:19) Numbers 35 states that the avenger of blood was only free to kill someone who had killed another if

that person ventured forth from a city of refuge (Numbers 35:26-28)

that person was guilty of murder and not manslaughter (Numbers 35:16-21) The avenger of blood had a legal status in society to carry out society’s (ie God’s) judgment and was by no means one who was to exact private vengeance.

(Howard, 385)

Let’s use Abortion as a example since it is on a lot of minds now with so many laws arguing about it.

There are thousands of abortions every year.

Unwitting murder is some one who gets into a situation they didn’t plan on.

Pressure come from inside, outside.

Ends up having an abortion.

But they didn’t know it was murder.

They were told parents, media, TV, Friends, teachers, politicians, money makers, pro-choice, Doctors.

That it isn’t alive until you hear it scream.

Unknowing sin.

We can’t be angry at the person who knew no better.

Be angry at those who knew and told the lies.

If we want to see Abortion go away we need to stop the lies that this is the better choice, and change those attitudes, judgments, ridicules, that make it so.

According to Jewish tradition the roads leading to these cities were kept in excellent condition and the crossroads were well marked with sign posts reading, “Refuge1 Refuge!” Runners were also stationed along the way to guide the fugitives (Campbell, BKC, 363)

People could not run to any city and claim it as a refuge.

the fugitive was only safe as long as he stayed in the city.

the accused had to live in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest, at which time they could return to their hometowns.

there was only one high priest, so when he died all refugees in all of these cities would be freed at once.

All across the country people would stream back to their homes.

(Gangel, HBC 262)

When the High Priest died, What a day of Freedom!

In Human terms the high priest’s death served as something of a statue of limitations ending the exile and giving an opportunity for freedom.

But also a dramatic picture of redemption and atonement.

the death of the high priest paid the debt for the freedom of those who where guilty of manslaughter.

An accused person could not buy their own freedom; it could only be purchased with the life of a high priest.

What a picture of Jesus Christ.

(I did not know Jesus was in Joshua so much till I started writing sermons).

We cannot purchase our freedom it is only through the death, burial, and Resurrection that we have freedom.

Praise be to God that no matter what sin we have commited Jesus can forgive us.

That doesn’t mean we can do what ever we want but that we Repent our sins.

We turn from them.

We Change.

I knew of a man who claimed God’s forgiveness but raped little boys till the day he died Or “loved them” as he apparently called it.

(I only knew of him after the fact when it all came out.)

That is not repentance.

That is not God’s way.

Our Role is not to be the high priest but to be the runners on the side of the roads calling out Refuge Refuge.

Not at a building but at the feet of Jesus Christ.

Next Steps

Are you calling out Refuge

Are you allowing for people to repent.

Aware, not stupid but allowing that people can change.