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T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
He has redeemed th e inheritances and persons of his people by his sufferings and death and he will one day redeem them from the power of death and the grave. He is w ithin reach of every p enitent and believing soul. As the man-slayer was safe in th e city of refuge so th e soul th a t flees to Christ is safe in him. The law has no power over him . The flaming sword of ju s tice can do him no harm . •Who is he th a t condemneth? It is Christ th a t died. The very moment th e man-slayer p u t his foot outside th e city of refuge, he was in peril. Only while he abode in th e city was he safe. The soul must abide in Christ. “O ther refuge have I none ' ^ Hangs my helpless so’ul on Thee. THURSDAY, March 13. 1 Kings 2:36- 46. A L ife Dost Through Disobedience By breaking his parole, Shimei b rough t on his own death. He was w ithout excuse. He m ust have dis believed th e k ing ’s prohibition before he disobeyed it. The story is a m inia tu re and replica of th e fall and fate of man. God said to Adam concerning th e forbidden tree, “ In th e day thou eatest th ereo f thou sh alt surely die. Adam believed S atan and disobeyed God. By one m an’s disobedience many were made sinners an d judgm ent came upon all men u n ti condemnation. Unbe-r lief and disobedience are th e tw in pil la rs a t th e gates of death. F a ith and obedience stand tog ether a t th e gates of life. There is no o ther way b u t tp tru s t and obey. FRIDAY, March 14. Isaiah 28:14-22. A Refuge of Dies Sincerity is no te st of tru th and no safeguard from death. The prophets of Baal were earn est and sincere, 1 K ings 18:28. A man may gather, cook and ea t toad-stools believing them to be mushrooms. The poison, kills him notw ithstanding his faith . I t is not faith th a t saves. I t is th a t upon which faith centers and is fixed. If- a man believe a lie, he is lost. If he believe th e tru th , he is saved. There are many subterfuges and pretexts behind which men hide. The h ail of coming judg m ent shall sweep away every refuge of lies. Every p lan t th a t th e heavenly F a th e r has no t p lanted shall be rooted up. Every hope th a t is builded on hum an m erit shall be b rough t to
MONDAY, March 10. Num. 35:9-21. Cities of Refuge Appointed The establishm ent of cities of refuge was an evidence of Divine mercy shin ing th rough the Mosaic code. They were six Levitical cities, th ree on each side of th e river Jo rdan . Their purpose was to giVe a man who had slain ano th er man unintentionally, a chance to save his life. There was no hope or refuge for th e w ilful m urderer. He could be tak en from God’s a lta r and p u t to death. Homicide may be acci dental or justifiable. While th e act th u s comm itted may he a life-long source of reg ret and grief to th e ona comm itting it, th e re is ho gu ilt attach ed to it in th e sigh t of God or man. The nearest of kin became th e avenger of blood. If a man who had innocently tak en life should be found a t any tim e outside a city of refuge he could be slain by the avenger w ithout guilt. T h at such a place of refuge was pro vided where a hun ted fugitive m ight find asylum, shows us th a t behind law is love. God will by no means clear th e guilty b u t he provides a way whereby th e innocent may escape. As soon as a life had been taken, th e one who had tak en it would sta rt for th e city of refuge. I t was no t so far away b u t th a t he could easily reach it. The fa rth e st point was only th irty m iles and a man fleeing for his life could reach it in a day. As a ru le the chances were in favor of th e fugitive getting to th e city before th e avenger could reach him. Doubtless th e re was many a hotly contested race and the man-slayer m ight often cross th e bor der line of th e city w ith th e pu rsu er close behind. W ithin th e city he was safe b u t he m ust rem ain th ere un til th e death of th e high priest. A fter th a t event w hether it was near or remote, th e man-slayer m ight re tu rn to his trib e or city and dwell th e re . w ithout fear of harm . There are always condi tions to be fulfilled before a provision of grace can be accepted and enjoyed. TUESDAY, March 11. Num. 35:22-24. Rules for Refugees WEDNESDAY, March 12. Joshua 20:1- 9. Cities of Refuge Christ is our city of refuge. He is our nearest of kin and our Redeemer.
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