Deuteronomy 4:41-49

Introduction

[READING - Deuteronomy 4:41-49]

[PRAYER]

A refuge is a shelter, a protection from danger or distress.

You use an umbrella as a refuge from the rain.

You use your house as a refuge from the cold.

You must use Jesus as a refuge from the wrath of God that you invite upon yourself by your sin.

[TS] Tonight, we want to talk about Deuteronomy 4:41-49, but our focus will be on vv. 41-43, which introduce us to three of six cities of refuge.

MAJOR IDEAS

[WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CITIES OF REFUGE?]

A city of refuge was a particular city designated by God as a shelter for those who killed someone accidentally.

As we read here in Deuteronomy 4, for the tribes that remained to the east of the Jordan River in the territories that formerly belonged to Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan, three cities of refuge were established.

Bezer for the Reubenites.

Ramoth for the Gadites.

Golan for the Manassites.

Should a man unintentionally kill another, he would flee to one of theses cities for refuge from the avenger of blood—i.e., a family-member of the one killed; one who would be looking to demand life for life because he didn’t know or he didn’t care that the killing was unintentional.

The city would provide asylum to the one seeking refuge until a trial could be conducted to determine the asylum seeker’s guilt or innocence.

If the city’s elders discerned that the asylum seeker was innocent and had killed accidentally, then he was allowed to live in the city of refuge without fear of retribution from the relatives of the one killed.

If the city’s elders determined that the asylum seeker was actually guilty of murder, then he would be handed over to the avenger of blood, that he may die (Deut. 19:12).

In fact, before there were cities of refuge there was a tent of meet, a tabernacle, a sanctuary with an altar that functioned similarly to these cities of refuge.

One in need of asylum could flee to that sanctuary and cling to the horns of the altar for refuge.

His case would be examined.

If he was innocent, he would not be harmed.

If he was guilty, he would pay the price.

In two cases we see men do just that.

Adonijah did just that in 1 Kings 1:50 and so did Joab in 1 Kings 2:28.

But as neither of them were actually innocent, they were both executed.

As I’ve said, one fleeing to a city of refuge, if actually guilty of murder, could also expect to be executed, for Exodus 21:12 says...

Exodus 21:12 NASB95

12 “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.

Now, Moses was commanded to establish six cities of refuge—three on east side of the Jordan as mentioned here in Deuteronomy 4 and 3 on the west side of the Jordan in the Promised Land proper.

Asylum was not limited to Israelites only but also to strangers and sojourners among the Israelites (Num. 35:15), but there were requirements placed on every individual seeking refuge.

Numbers 35 lists those requirements for us.

First, the killing must have been without premeditation or intent.

Numbers 35:16-18 gives us a few examples of killing with premeditation or intent.

Numbers 35:16–18 NASB95

16 ‘But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. 17 ‘If he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he will die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. 18 ‘Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he might die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

We see even more examples of killing with premeditation or intent in Numbers 35:20-21 and we see what is to happen to the murderer as a result…

Numbers 35:20–21 NASB95

20 ‘If he pushed him of hatred, or threw something at him lying in wait and as a result he died, 21 or if he struck him down with his hand in enmity, and as a result he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, he is a murderer; the blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

But in Numbers 35:22-25a we the type of accidental killing after which someone might feel to a city of refuge…

Numbers 35:22–25 NASB95

22 ‘But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or threw something at him without lying in wait, 23 or with any deadly object of stone, and without seeing it dropped on him so that he died, while he was not his enemy nor seeking his injury, 24 then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the blood avenger according to these ordinances. 25 ‘The congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.

Once admitted to the city of refuge, the manslayer could not leave the city until the death of the high priest (Num 35:25; Josh 20:6).

Joshua 20:6 NASB95

6 ‘He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled.’ ”

If he left before the death of the high priest, the family of the one slain by him could avenge his death (Num 35:26-28).

Numbers 35:26–28 NASB95

26 ‘But if the manslayer at any time goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he may flee, 27 and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills the manslayer, he will not be guilty of blood 28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return to the land of his possession.

In this way the city provided a permanent place of refuge but also a punitive place of detention for the one who had taken a life.

The manslayer wasn’t guiltless. He had, even if accidentally take a life, but He did not, however, deserve to die.

If he left the city, the avenger of blood could kill him without guilt.

The one who had taken a life could not buy his way out by paying off the family of the man who had been accidentally killed.

[ILLUS] Although not concerning a city of refuge per se, we do see another similar example to all this in 1 Kings 2:36-46 concerning a man named Shimei.

Shimei, a members of Saul’s family, had cursed King David as David fled from his son, Absalom, as Absalom was trying to steal the throne of Israel from his father.

Shimei came out cursing David, throwing stones at him and all his servants. He said to David…

2 Samuel 16:7–8 NASB95

7 Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow! 8 “The Lord has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

So, Shimei seems upset.

But after Absalom’s death and David’s return, Shimei begged forgiveness.

2 Samuel 19:19–20 NASB95

19 So he said to the king, “Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart. 20 “For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

David didn’t bring the sword down on Shimei, but after David’s death, Solomon told him to build a house for himself in Jerusalem and never leave it or else he would die.

In that way, Jerusalem acted as a city of refuge for Shimei.

But based on what you now know about Shimei, do you think he did what he was told?

No.

1 Kings 2:39-46 says…

1 Kings 2:39–46 NASB95

39 But it came about at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, “Behold, your servants are in Gath.” 40 Then Shimei arose and saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish to look for his servants. And Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath. 41 It was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned. 42 So the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and solemnly warn you, saying, ‘You will know for certain that on the day you depart and go anywhere, you shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word which I have heard is good.’ 43 “Why then have you not kept the oath of the Lord, and the command which I have laid on you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know all the evil which you acknowledge in your heart, which you did to my father David; therefore the Lord shall return your evil on your own head. 45 “But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.” 46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and fell upon him so that he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.

In the same way, if the manslayer remained in his city of refuge, he would be safe.

However, if he left his city of refuge for any reason, he could be killed… just like ol’ Shimei.

[WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM ALL THIS?]

Well, we learn that murder begins in the heart.

In manslaughter, like in murder, a human life is taken. But murder receives the death penalty in God’s Law while manslaughter receives detention in a city of refuge.

Why is that one taking of life deserves death but another taking of life deserves detention?

The answer is intent—and intent is born in the heart.

Our Lord tells us this in Matthew 5:21-22…

Matthew 5:21–22 ESV

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

The manslayer doesn’t intend to kill, but the murderer does… but there are plenty of people walking around with murderous hearts who are only one angry outburst away from making it a reality.

Examine your heart tonight.

Are you angry in general?

Give your heart to Christ.

Let the peace of Christ rule you.

Pour out your anger to Christ in prayer.

Anger does not produce the righteous life that God desires.

Are you angry at someone in particular?

Do whatever you need to do to be reconciled with that person (Matt. 5:24).

Pray for them.

Forgive them.

Confess to them.

Whatever it takes.

Just as you wouldn’t want to be guilty of literal murder, you don’t want to be guilty of murder in the heart either.

We learn that there are some losses that can’t be made right in this life.

The manslayer accidentally kills. He flees to his city of refuge. He stands trial, and the elders declare him innocent of murder.

Yes, he killed, but he did not mean too. It was an accident.

He will have to live in the city of refuge until he dies or until the high priest does.

But what about the family whose loved one has been killed? What about them? How does this satisfy their desire for justice?

It doesn’t.

In a sin-cursed world, death is unavoidable even when every precaution is taken.

Today, we strap kids in cars like they’re going to the moon, but kids still die in car accidents.

People avoid cigarettes, eat right, and exercise and still die of some malady in the body.

Death is unavoidable in this sin-cursed world, and many times it’s not directly anyone’s fault.

What do we do in times like that?

We obey Jesus who says that we must forgive.

We trust Jesus who says that He will repay.

We look forward to Jesus who, in His return, will make all things right.

We also learn that Jesus is a better refuge.

The three cites we’ve read about in Deuteronomy 4 were spaced out to provide ready access to those who might need one of these cities. As has been said, three others were spread out in the Promised Land proper to provide ready access to folks on that side of the Jordan River.

But what if the avenger of blood got you before you got to a city of refuge? What if you couldn’t get to your city of refuge fast enough?

Certainly the manslayer was supposed to be afforded the opportunity to stand trial, but a family member angry and emotional at having lost a loved one—they don’t always do what supposed to be done.

But it’s precisely here that Jesus is a better refuge because Jesus is always with us, never leaving nor forsaking us. He is with us even unto the end of the age.

No matter where we are, we can find refuge in Him.

In fact, no matter what we’ve done, we can find refuge in Him.

Jesus is also a better refuge because He provides shelter not just for the innocent but for the guilty who are willing to admit their guilt.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he shows us that not one of us is actually innocent. We are all guilty of murder in the heart, lust in the heart, hatred in the heart, and on and on.

Not one of us has been perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect.

Therefore, we are all guilty.

But though we are guilty Jesus says to us…

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28).

He says…

“How often I wanted to gather (you), the way a hen gather her chicks under her wings…” (Matt. 23:37).

Jesus is available to you.

You are guilty.

Are you willing to take refuge in Him?

Finally, we learn that Jesus is a better high priest.

In terms of the cities of refuge, the high priest’s death, even under natural causes, served to pay the price for the life that was taken by the manslayer.

Because the high priest died, the manslayer wouldn’t have to die.

And once the high priest died, the manslayer was free to go back to his home.

But no high priest ever heard about a manslayer in a city of refuge and decided to give his life so the manslayer could go free.

But Jesus did just that.

As a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, Jesus intentionally gave His life on the cross so that we could escape the wrath of God and be set free from the curse of sin and death.

The death we deserved, Jesus died in our place.

The wrath we deserved, Jesus took on Himself.

Through faith in His death and resurrection, we are free to be at home with Him.

Conclusion

Is Jesus your refuge?

[PRAYER]