Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Deuteronomy 19:2-3

Deuteronomy 19:2-3    "Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. (3) Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither."

God's mercy is incredible and His forethought into situations and circumstances is complete.  When the people inherited the land promised to them, they were to separate three cities for a specific purpose. These cities would be known as "cities of refuge".  Does that sound familiar?  We hear that term spoken quite often in our time. There were specific situations in which a person was to be able to take refuge.  If a man accidentally killed another, he could flee into the city in order to escape the wrath of someone trying to obtain vengeance.  But these cities were not to be used to escape an intentional murder. If someone had fled to the city after intentionally killing someone, they would be delivered into the hands of the avenger.  The city of refuge was not a haven for criminals.

There were to be three cities and then if the Lord allowed Israel to enlarge their borders, they were to set aside three more cities for this same purpose. They were to maintain the roads and paths to the city so the individual could quickly make his way into the closest city.

As I think of these cities of refuge, my heart and mind go to our precious Lord Jesus Christ. We read in the 143rd Psalm concerning situations that many, if not all of us, have experienced in life.  We often feel ourselves to be surrounded by the enemy. We do not know which way to turn, which way to go, what are we going to do?  The Psalmist gives us the spiritual understanding concerning the "cities of refuge" that was provided by our Heavenly Father.  "I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah." (Psalm 143:6)   I can picture the individual who due to unforeseen circumstances is in need of refuge.  He knows where to go, but it seems such a long way and long time to get there.  He/she is stretching toward that place where rest and protection can be found.  While making the journey, the need builds inside. The longing for a loving face and protective hands increases.  Is that not how we feel sometimes when we are urgently seeking the enfolding arms of our Lord?   "Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me." (Psalm 143:9) 

We sing the beautiful old hymn, "Where Could I Go, But to the Lord?"  There is no better place of refuge than in the presence of our Lord. I can only imagine how the disciples felt the night Jesus told them He was going away.  For three and a half years, He had been the very center of their lives. They looked to Him for everything and He graciously provided. Now He said He was going away.  Sometimes, we might feel He has gone away from us; but, the precious truth is that He has promised never to leave us and never to turn His back upon us.  He has given us the Holy Spirit Who lives within us to assure us of His constant presence in our lives.  The path we take to enter that refuge is by humbling ourselves and crying out for His divine will to be done in our lives. 

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top!  It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.  Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...

Daily Devotion: Colossians 1:25-26

Colossians 1:25-26    “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  Even   the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” In verse twenty-four, Paul has expressed his joy in bearing hardship for the church. It is of this church, the body of Jesus Christ, that he is made a minister. Since Paul used the phrase “made a minister” in verse twenty-three of this same chapter, it seems there is something important that he wishes to convey. The Greek word translated as “made” means “to cause to be.” It was the will of God (Col 1:1) that caused Paul to become a minister. God is always the cause of true ministry. Although our fathers may be ministers, if we become true ministers of the gospel it is  not  because our fathers are ministers. True ministers of the gospel do not take that path because they seek honor for themselves, or b...

Daily Devotion: Matthew 6:9-13 (3)

Matthew 6:9-13    "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." When others might go away from us, God has promised never to forsake us. When others might not be truthful, our Father in heaven is faithful and full of truth. When others cannot understand our feelings, our Heavenly Father knows exactly how we feel and is able to empathize with us. In fact, He has told us that He is "touched by the feelings of our infirmities." He is stirred when we are sad.  Our relationship with Him is of th...