Bible Study

The Cities Of Refuge – Kedesh Joshua 20:1-9

The cities of refuge were part of the distribution of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel. Only one tribe, the Levites, was not given land to develop. Instead, they were to be the priests of the Lord and the overseers of the tabernacle and all its rites and furnishings. Only the Levites could carry and set up the tabernacle (Numbers 2:5-13). As the Levites were to have no territorial domain allocated to them like the other tribes in the conquest of Canaan, they were to be distributed throughout the land in certain cities appropriated to their use. Part of their inheritance consisted of forty-eight cities spread throughout the land (Numbers 35:6-7). Of these forty-eight cities, six were designated as cities of refuge. The cities were Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan (Joshua 20:7-8).

The Mosaic Law stated that anyone who committed a murder was to be put to death (Exodus 21:14). But for unintentional deaths, God set aside these cities to which the murderer could flee for refuge (Exodus 21:13). He would be safe from the avenger—the family member charged with avenging the victim’s death (Numbers 35:19)—until the case could go to trial. The congregation would judge to find if the attacker acted unintentionally. If he did, he would return to the city of refuge and live there safely until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the trial, at which point he could return to his property. If the attacker left the city of refuge before the death of the high priest, however, the avenger would have the right to kill him (Numbers 35:24-28).

The establishment of those privileged sanctuaries among the cities of the Levites is probably traceable to the idea that the Levites would be the most suitable and impartial judges, that their presence and counsels might calm or restrain the stormy passions of the blood avenger. By their consecration as priests, the Levites were mediators between the Israelites and God. As such, they would have been gifted to calmly mediate between the attacker and the victim’s family, ensuring that no further bloodshed would occur.

The cities of refuge can be seen as types of Christ, in whom sinners find a refuge from the destroyer of our souls. Just as a person could seek refuge in the cities set up for that purpose, we flee to Christ for refuge (Hebrews 6:18). We run to Christ to escape the danger we are in from the curse and condemnation of the law, from the wrath of God, and from an eternity in hell. Only Christ provides refuge from these things, and it is to Him alone that we must run. Just as the cities were open to all who fled to them for safety, it is Christ who provides safety to all who come to Him for refuge from sin and its punishment.

A. The Reason For The Cities Of Refuge

1. The Institution Of The Cities Of Refuge – God’s Sovereign Grace
2. The Interpretation Of The Cities Of Refuge – Man’s Physical Safety
3. The Importance Of The Cities Of Refuge – Saint’s Salvation In Type
4. The Implications Of The Cities Of Refuge – A Type Of Christ And Their Names Have Great Significance

B. Kadesh comes from the word “sanctum” which means to be clean or holy; to be consecrated or dedicated; to be morally pure (Christ Is Our Holiness)

1. When a man enters Christ Jesus, he then takes on the imputed righteousness of Christ.
2. This righteousness is not the goodness of man; it is the perfect, faultless righteousness of God Himself.
3. This righteousness is not a mixture of darkness and light; as God dwelleth in a light that man cannot approach unto, we—as God’s chidren—dwell in perfect light in Christ.
4. This righteousness is not a mixture of dead works and faith; it is imputed through faith alone.
5. This righteousness is certainly not a mixture of self-praise and boasting; our praise and boasting is in Christ alone.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Imputed righteousness of faith)
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

C. In today’s spiritual economy, most religions and denominations try to do right in order to be right with the Lord. Romans 9-10 spells out the spiritual blindness of Israel in light of Paul’s pray to God for their salvation. Romans 9:27-10:10 will point out a few things. These verses explain:

MAN’S RIGHTEOUSNESS VS. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

1. We See The Desire of the Redeemed: vs 1 “heart’s desire and prayer..saved” (hopes no man to die without Christ!)
2. We See The Dedication of the Religionist – vs 2 “zeal of God” (It is a shame we don’t have the same zeal!)
3. We See The Deception of the Religionist – vs 3 “ignorant of God’s righteousness”
4. We See The Dilemma of the Religionist – vs 3 “going about to establish their own righteousness”
5. We See The Damnation of the Religionist – vs 3 “have not submitted themselves”
6. We See The Deliverance of the Religionist – vs 4 “everyone that believeth”

Let Us Examine God’s Righteousness
Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
1 Timothy 6:15-16 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Revelation 15:4a Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy

Let Us Examine Man’s Righteousness
Job Said – Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
David Said – Psalms 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Solomon Said – Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Isaiah Said – Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Peter Said – Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Paul Said – Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1. In Christ, We Have Perfect Holiness (There is no fault in us!)
   1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
   Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
   Colossians 1:20-22 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
2. In Christ, We Have Positional Holiness (Salvation is by faith!)
   Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
   Romans 4:5-6 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
   Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
   Ephesians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
3. In Christ, We Have Practical Holiness (We could not keep it!)

Acts 15:7-11 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. (8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; (9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (10) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (11) But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

4. In Christ, We Have Permanent Holiness (We cannot lose it!)

Ephesians 1:12-13 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Revelation 22:10-11 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Victory Baptist Church 27 July 2022 victorypalmetto.com