Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20:2)
Joshua 20:2, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: Years before the Israelites ever crossed the Jordan River to enter the promised land, God had instructed His people to make special provision for the person who committed accidental murder. He also charged His people to make special provision for the ministers of God. The six cities of refuge (Joshua 20:1-9), which Joshua appointed in the land of Canaan, were types of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even their names represent Him. 1. Kedesh means ‘holy’. Christ is the holy one, both as God and as man. Being the holy God-man, He is abundantly qualified to be our Mediator, Saviour and Redeemer. Christ is made of God unto us righteousness and holiness, justification and sanctification (Psalm 16:10; Hebrews 7:26; I Corinthians 1:30). 2. Shechem means ‘the shoulder’. Christ carried the enormous load of our sin upon the cross and put it away (Isaiah 53:6.) The government of the world in general, and of His church in particular, is upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9:6). And in conversion, He finds His lost sheep, lays it upon His shoulder and carries it home (Luke 15:4). 3. Hebron means ‘fellowship’. Christ seeks continual fellowship with us. ‘…truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ’ (I John 1:3). In Christ we have access to and fellowship with God, and shall have uninterrupted communion with Him in heaven’s eternal glory (I Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 2:18; John 17:24). 4. Bezer means ‘a fortified place’. Christ is our refuge. What confidence the child of God can have knowing we are sheltered in the Lord’s care and protection! “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”’ (Psalm 91:2) “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10) Christ is the fortress and defense of His people, the stronghold in which the prisoners of hope are secured. 5. Ramoth means ‘exalted’. Christ is our exalted Saviour. “…God also hath highly exalted him…” (Philippians 2:9) Christ is the one by whom we have been exalted from our low estate to sit among princes and to inherit the throne of glory (Ephesians 2:4-7). And Christ is the one we exalt, honor and magnify (Revelation 5:9-10). 6. Golan means ‘revealed’, or ‘manifested’. Christ is God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16). He is the one revealed to us, to whom we are called and by whom we are saved (Galatians 1:15-16). In Christ the glory of God is revealed (II Corinthians 4:6). And that revelation of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is salvation. Jesus Christ is our refuge, our protection from sin, death, and judgment to come. Scripture says that we have strong consolation because we "have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:18). Just as the murderer is guilty before God, so we are guilty of sin. But when we flee to Christ, we are accepted by Him and find refuge in His righteousness. 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.” Being found "in Christ" means that Christ is our sanctuary, our refuge from death and the coming judgment of God. If a person is to escape death and judgment, he must flee to Christ. Christ alone has been appointed by God to give refuge and safety from death and judgment. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, there are many times I have failed to flee to You when faced with the overwhelming circumstances of life, but I pray that from this day forward, I would live in total dependence on You. As I have trusted You with my soul, help me to live my life with complete dependence on You. In Jesus name, AMEN. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Hannah…Praying Mother (I Samuel 1:27-28)
I Samuel 1:27-28, For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. Billy Sunday tells of a minister who was making visits. He came to a certain home and asked for the mother but the child opening the door answered, "You cannot see mother for she prays from nine to ten." He waited forty minutes to see that mother, and when she came out of her prayer closet the light of glory was on her face, and he knew why that home was so bright; he knew why her two sons were in the ministry and her daughter a missionary. "All hell cannot tear a boy or girl away from a praying mother," comments Mr. Sunday. One of the greatest fears that troubles Satan is prayer. He trembles when a Christian prays. In this fractured world, each family faces troubles, tests, and tribulations, but the trial in your home can be turned into blessing if you turn to the Lord. The Lord desires to do the impossible through situations that seem unbearable. A woman named Hannah begged God to give her a baby boy. Hannah had prayed earnestly, continually, and specifically for a child and God blessed Hannah and answered her prayers with the birth of Samuel. After the blessing of the child, she did not forget God, Hannah dedicated her son to the Lord for His service. This truly exemplifies the concept of dedication. The LORD answered the prayers of thousands of godly people in Israel. Samuel, the last of the Judges (Acts 13:20) and the first of the prophets (Acts 13:24), by his godly life, his powerful preaching, and his anointing of King Saul and David, led Israel from the distressing days of the Judges, to the dynamic days of Israel. One woman prays and a whole nation is blessed. What a good God we serve! We learn at least three valuable lessons from Hannah’s prayer life (there are more than three): 1.Hannah prayed earnestly (I Samuel 1:11). remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, Hannah’s heart was expressed in her words. A praying mother is a great asset to her home, her church, and her community. She prays for wisdom and discernment in teaching and training her children. Her prayer is a desire that her children would come to know the Lord, and to serve Him, and to do His will. 2.Hannah prayed continually (I Samuel 1:12). she continued praying before the LORD, Hannah prayed several times a day; every day. A godly mother prays for her family every day. Just praying on occasion is not enough. The Scriptures commanded everyone to pray (Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; I Thessalonians 5:17). 3.Hannah prayed specifically (I Samuel 1:27). For this child I prayed; Hannah did not just pray for any child. She specifically prayer for a man child. There is nothing wrong with praying specifically. In fact, it’s Biblical. Just as it is important when we make a list of priorities, God desires that we prioritize our prayer life. Prayers for your family need to be specific. God remembered Hannah's prayer and Hannah bore a son and named him Samuel, which means “God heard”. Hannah learned a wonderful truth: God answers prayer. Samuel was a gift from the Lord: the Lord had given Samuel because she had prayed believing. The peace came before she got the answer. Peace doesn’t come from getting everything we want or think we need from God. Peace comes from leaving everything with God, being content with what we have and praying the Lord’s will be done. Prayer is the answer to our afflictions. When we are in deep sorrow and our hearts are broken, prayer is the answer. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I know that nothing happens in my life that You’re not aware of. I know that You will not abandon me in this affliction. SO, I’m asking You to teach me to see Your comforting hand in this affliction. May this sweeten my love, secure my hope, and strengthen my faith. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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