DCLM Daily Manna Wednesday 24 January 2024

TOPIC: Our Sure Refuge

TEXT:  Numbers 35:25-32 (KJV) 
²⁵ And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

²⁶ But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;

²⁷ And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:

²⁸ Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

²⁹ So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

³⁰ Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

³¹ Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

³² And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

KEY VERSE
“And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.”.
Numbers 35:25

DCLM Daily Manna 24 January 2024

While discussing the city of refuge, a commentator writes that it “represented God’s concern for justice in a culture that did not always protect the innocent. These cities were six in number and situated in the Levites’ cities. They were located throughout the land to protect those who accidentally or unintentionally committed a crime or murder or those awaiting trials of such cases.”

Today’s text explains what the duty of the congregation (the people) shall be concerning a slayer. It is their prerogative to deliver a slayer (somebody who killed unintentionally) from the hand of the blood avenger (i.e. the nearest relatives of a murdered person), from being killed. The slayer shall run to one of the cities of refuge for safety and shall abide there till the death of the high priest.

READ DCLM Daily Manna 23 January 2024 – Beware of Greed

But if the slayer shall at any time come out of the city of refuge and he is caught by the avenger of blood, he shall be killed. There shall be immediate judgment in the city of refuge and with the testimony of two or more witnesses shall the slayer be put to death, if found guilty. Where he is not guilty, he shall remain in the city of refuge till the death of the high priest because the blood of a fellow human being had been shed.

We learn from this arrangement that life is so important and no one should suffer what can be described as jungle justice. Moreover, we should be very careful not to shed the blood of people through careless acts. We are to honour judges among us and those given the authority to see to the well-being and protection of others.

Jesus Christ is our only city of refuge. He is the One we can run to for protection against Satan, the accuser of brethren. As long as we remain in Him, we are saved and protected.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There is room in Christ for every sincere refuge seeker.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 22-23