39 lines
6.4 KiB
HTML
39 lines
6.4 KiB
HTML
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Title = '399. THE CITIES OF REFUGE';
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<h2>399. THE CITIES OF REFUGE</h2>
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<p><a id="fem399-si1" onclick="return mV('Hbr',6,18);">Hebrews 6:18</a> makes a distinct allusion to the Cities of Refuge, and the man fleeing there for safety, as a type of Christ the Shelter for the sinner. Let us look at the kind of Refuge which Christ is.</p>
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<p>1. Christ is a <b>Protecting Refuge.</b> Jehovah is said to be in <a id="fem399-si2" onclick="return mV('Isa',25,4);">Isaiah 25:4</a>, "A Refuge from the storm;" and in <a id="fem399-si3" onclick="return mV('Psa',59,16);">Psalm 59:16</a> the Psalmist says, "Thou hast been my Defence and Refuge in the day of my trouble." As the man who had killed another inadvertently, found protection from the avenger of blood in the City of Refuge, so those who flee to Christ find protection from the wrath to come (<a id="fem399-si4" onclick="return mV('1Th',1,10);">1Th 1:10</a>), from the curse of a broken law (<a id="fem399-si5" onclick="return mV('Gal',3,10);">Gal 3:10</a>), from the justice of God (<a id="fem399-si6" onclick="return mV('Exd',34,7);">Exd 34:7</a>), from the consequence of sin (<a id="fem399-si7" onclick="return mV('Hbr',9,26);">Hbr 9:26</a>), from the power of darkness (<a id="fem399-si8" onclick="return mV('Col',1,13);">Col 1:13</a>), from the love of the world (<a id="fem399-si9" onclick="return mV('Gal',1,4);">Gal 1:4</a>), and from the dominion of sin (<a id="fem399-si10" onclick="return mV('Rom',6,16);">Rom 6:16</a>), and find safety in the day of trouble.</li>
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<p>2. Christ is a <b>Pleasant Refuge.</b> In <a id="fem399-si11" onclick="return mV('Joe',3,16);">Joel 3:16</a> we read, "The Lord will be the Hope of His people," or, as the margin gives it, "The place of repair, or harbour." The Hebrew word rendered "<em>hope</em>" is the same as in the two previous passages of Scripture, where it is translated "<em>refuge</em>." The marginal reading of "<em>harbour</em>" is suggestive of a pleasant harbour of refuge, such as is being built at the present at Peterhead and Sunderland. They are being built at great cost, to provide havens of rest for the storm-tossed mariners, where they can be in safety and calm. We can quite understand a sailor who has known the protection of one of these harbours regarding it as a pleasant place. But what is this in comparison with what Christ is? He is the Altogether Lovely (<a id="fem399-si12" onclick="return mV('Sgs',5,16);">Sgs 5:16</a>). Rest of conscience (<a id="fem399-si13" onclick="return mV('Mat',11,28);">Mat 11:28</a>), joy of heart (<a id="fem399-si14" onclick="return mV('Jhn',15,11);">Jhn 15:11</a>), satisfaction of soul (<a id="fem399-si15" onclick="return mV('Psa',36,8);">Psa 36:8</a>), brightness of hope (<a id="fem399-si16" onclick="return mV('1Pe',1,3);">1Pe 1:3</a>), gladness of spirit (<a id="fem399-si17" onclick="return mV('Jhn',20,20);">Jhn 20:20</a>), preciousness of promise (<a id="fem399-si18" onclick="return mV('2Pe',1,3);">2Pe 1:3</a>), and pleasantness of peace (<a id="fem399-si19" onclick="return mV('Pro',3,17);">Pro 3:17</a>), are found in Him.</li>
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<p>3. Christ is a <b>Permanent Refuge.</b> "The Eternal God is thy refuge" (<a id="fem399-si20" onclick="return mV('Deu',33,27);">Deu 33:27</a>). The word "<em>refuge</em>" might be, and perhaps better, rendered "<em>habitation</em>." The Lord is the Home of those who have fled to Him. The refugee was not to go out of his place of safety until the death of the high priest (<a id="fem399-si21" onclick="return mV('Jos',20,6);">Jos 20:6</a>). Our High Priest will never die, therefore with Him we shall live in the power of His endless life. It is in this sense that He "saves evermore" (<a id="fem399-si22" onclick="return mV('Hbr',7,25);">Hbr 7:25</a>, margin). Those whom the Lord takes up He never gives up (<a id="fem399-si23" onclick="return mV('Jhn',10,28,29);">Jhn 10:28-29</a>). For "ever with the Lord" (<a id="fem399-si24" onclick="return mV('1Th',4,17);">1Th 4:17</a>), is the lock that shuts us into the glory and gladness of His presence for ever. Among the precious "no mores" of the Book of the Revelation is this one, "He shall go no more out" (<a id="fem399-si25" onclick="return mV('Rev',3,12);">Rev 3:12</a>).</li>
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<p>4. Christ is a <b>Personal Refuge.</b> More than once the Psalmist chants the words, "The Lord, He is my Refuge" (<a id="fem399-si26" onclick="return mV('Psa',91,2,9);">Psa 91:2, 9</a>). Well for us if we can sing—
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<blockquote>
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<p>"Jesus, my heart's dear Refuge;
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<br>Jesus has died for me."</p>
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</blockquote>
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<p>It is not enough to know that Christ is the Saviour we need, the essential thing is to make personal application to Him, and each to receive Him for oneself. The testimony of God's saints is one on this point. Dr. Doddridge on his dying bed said, "I have no hope in what I have been or done, yet I am full of confidence, and this is my confidence, there is a Hope set before me. I have fled, I still fly for refuge to that Hope. In Him I trust, in Him I have strong consolation, and shall assuredly be accepted in this Beloved of my soul." Having fled to Christ as the hiding place, the next thing is to make Him our abiding place, for as there is no safety out of Christ, neither is there joy if we are not abiding in Him by obedience to His Word; as Hewetson said, "I never have a moment's peace when I return in the slightest degree to conformity with the world; but I always have great peace when my soul returns home to its City of Refuge, the Lord Jesus Christ. Communion with Christ is
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the only source of satisfaction, the only source of lasting enjoyment."</p>
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<blockquote>
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<p>"Son of God. Thy Father's treasure,
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<br>He yet gives Thee all to me;
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<br>Angels vainly toil to measure
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<br>What I have in having Thee.
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<br>Grace so vast bewilders Heaven;
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<br>God to me His Christ has given."</p>
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</blockquote>
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