THE LORD SPOKE (April 03)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Joshua 19-20

The whole idea of a “city of refuge” was never to provide a safe haven for a criminal. They were intended for a person who “accidentally and unintentionally” (Josh. 20:3) killed someone. These were regional courts to deal with cases of manslaughter. As such, they effectively relocated the venue for such trials from the potentially explosive home court.

They were all located in cities assigned to the Levites. There, if anywhere, one could expect that the Law of Moses would be followed with care. That Law left retribution for manslaughter to the family members of the deceased - thus the necessity of a safeguard to guarantee that due process would be followed in order to avoid endless blood feuds.

When a person sought asylum at a city of refuge, the town council, which was comprised of the elders of the city, was to convene court at the city gate (Josh. 20:4). They were to hear testimony and determine if there was “malice aforethought” (Josh. 20:5). They were to provide protective custody until the trial. After the trial, if the person was found not guilty he had to remain in that city and they were responsible for his safety until the death of the High Priest, at which time he was free to return to his home town (Josh. 20:6). The amnesty provided by this pardon system is described in greater detail in Numbers 35:25-28, where we read:

The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled. He must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which he has fled and the avenger of blood finds him outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. The accused must stay in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may he return to his own property.

Both passages refer to a near relative of the deceased who was “the avenger of blood” whose responsibility was to exact retribution for the whole family (Lev. 24:17; Num. 35:16-28). This was considered a just and noble job as this person was also responsible to protect other interests of the extended family:

• to provide an heir for a brother who had died (Deut. 25:5-10)
• to buy back land that a poor relative found necessary to sell outside the family (Lev. 25:25-28)
• to redeem a relative sold into slavery (Lev. 25:47-49)

This same term (“avenger of blood”) is translated elsewhere as “kinsman-redeemer” (in Ruth 3:9) or “Redeemer” (in Psalm 19:14). Indeed, God is our Redeemer - the One who protects our interests and pays the price, however so high, to purchase our redemption. No longer must we run to some city of refuge - we may run to Jesus!


New Testament: Acts 4

You get the impression that they’re really scrambling. Annas and Caiaphas have been in this story already. Though Annas had been deposed by the Romans, he was still considered the High Priest by the Jews. First his son and then his son-in-law, Caiaphas, had been propped up by Rome. Now others were involved in the botched cover-up (Acts 4:6). It was going from bad to worse.

Their words carried no weight. The people knew what was going on (Acts 4:16,20). Filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8,31) and with the full weight of truth on his side, Peter boldly proclaimed what God was doing. He used current events and produced full Scriptural backing (Acts 4:25-26) to confirm his testimony. Furthermore, it was bathed in prayer (Acts 4:24,31). It couldn’t be stopped.

Jail, intimidation, and direct threats did no good. Later, violence and even murder wouldn’t be enough. These “followers of the Way” (Acts 9:2; 19:9,23) couldn’t be stopped or detoured. With holy boldness they spoke of what they’d “seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). They were smitten with the truth that...

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Peter and John had no formal rabbinic training, yet the rabbis could not counter their arguments (Acts 4:13). To top it off, there was the very man who had been healed standing beside them. So they resorted once more to threats (Acts 4:15,18,21) and had to let them go. Peter and John found the other believers and gave their report. Praying for more holy boldness, they had no intention of remaining silent. They had a divine message that they were commissioned to proclaim. The old hymn says it well:

A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill:
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!

Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live;
And O Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall for ever die.