Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 35:1-15. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2035&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying, “Command the sons of Israel that they give to the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to live in; and you shall give to the Levites pasture lands around the cities. The cities shall be theirs to live in; and their pasture lands shall be for their cattle and for their herds and for all their beasts.
…
The cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities. All the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities, together with their pasture lands. …
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there. The cities shall be to you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for trial. The cities which you are to give shall be your six cities of refuge.” Numbers 35:1-3 and 6-7 and 9-13.
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Today’s Scripture, through God’s provision of cities of refuge, gives us opportunity to meditate on the lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness of God.
In tomorrow’s devotion, God willing, we will consider more examples of unintentional conduct of the manslayer compared to examples of intentional conduct of the manslayer. But, I thought the following example is one of the clearest examples of unintentional conduct of the manslayer.
“Now this is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live: when he kills his friend unintentionally, not hating him previously— as when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live;” Deuteronomy 19:4-5.
We note in today’s Scripture that the manslayer is not off the hook, not completely free, by fleeing to the city of refuge, the manslayer will still need to stand trial. It is possible that the manslayer may be tried and found guilty of intentional murder and put to death as a murderer, or he may be found guilty of unintentional killing and still receive some punishment proportionate to the guilt of his conduct even though he would not be put to death as a murderer.
But, these cities of death protect the manslayer from the avenger “so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for trial.” So, these cities of refuge are an exercise of God of lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for the LORD delights in these things.
“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24.
“He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 33:5.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 