Hebrews 6:18-20
Introduction:
Sometimes when we study God in the bible, at first glance we begin to believe there is a conflict between some of His characteristics and attributes.
We study the mercy of God and we study the justice of God, and we begin to think there is some kind of conflict there.
As we begin to stay in the word of God we see God in action we see that the attributes of God do not conflict each other, but they are in complete harmony.
I see this, when God set up Israel, and it’s form of government and the rules and regulations of the Old Testament.
We see a God of justice and the sanctity of life, and if you were to take another’s life that your life should be taken.
However God in His mercy also knew that there would be manslaughter. (Accidental death).
There would be court cases that would arise and there would have to be a proper trial.
And there would be mercy given to some individuals for what had happened.
So the Lord implemented something very unique in Israel’s society.
The tribe of Levi was not given a piece of property as their inheritance.
According to Joshua 13:33, their inheritance was God Himself.
By the way, people don’t look for physical blessings from God, so our inheritance as Christians is the Lord.
So all the tribes had their different areas in Israel, except the Leviticul tribe, they were given 48 cities.
And out of those 48 cities there were 6 that were called cities of refuge.
These cities of refuge, you could flee to if someone was after you.
For example: As a man was chopping wood with an axe his axe head came off and he accidentally killed his neighbor.
And his brother happened to see what happened and became angry and was ready to take the man’s life for taking his brothers.
So the man who killed the other would take off to one of the cities of refuge and wait there till, either the court case would occur, or until the high priest died.
This system of mercy, intertwined in the system of justice, is a great picture of God’s attributes all working together all of the time.
So as we read through the Old Testament we see the mercy of God in these cities of refuge.
In our text today in Hebrews 6:18-20, this reference to the cities of refuge is mentioned, and we find out who the high priest is who will never die.
So we will have a city of refuge, all the time in our troubles and sins.
Hebrews 6:18-20
18 that by two immutable things (meaning His oath and promises, once God makes an oath or promise it will never change), in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul (I am going to give you a refuge where you can put your soul on anchor something to put your soul on no matter what comes your way), both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
The first thing I want you to see about these cities of refuge:
1.) These were the only cities you could go to in time of trouble:
You could not go to the other 48 cities only the 6 cities of refuge.
If you went to the other 42 they would not have helped you, they were not cities of refuge.
This is a great picture of our salvation, because there is only one way to Christ.
You just can’t pick your city.
• I think I will go to the city of baptism,
• Maybe to the city of rehabilitation,
• Or the city of good works,
• Or of humanitarian.
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the light, no man comes to the father but by me.”
It was only through the city of refuge they could find mercy, and protection, and only in Jesus Christ can you find that safety and protection for your lives.
If you have put your faith in anything else but Jesus Christ and him crucified, it will not be safe for you in eternity.
You will not, and cannot ,be secure in anything other than Jesus Christ and what he did for you at the cross.
There is no other name by which you can be saved.
Well maybe you are thinking that is not a very good point you are bringing pastor, since God gave the Israelites 6 cities of refuge.
You need to understand why, there were 6 cities of refuge, because the point brings out even more light.
God in His wisdom, in Joshua 20:1-6, it is the only place where the 6 cities of refuge is mentioned by their names.
Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 4 and 19, mentions the cities but not by their names.
When you look at these cities on a geographic map of Israel you will see just how incredible it is.
You will see at the very top Kadish, then the city of Sheckum, then Hebra, and on the other side of Jordan, there is Baszar, Ramoth, and Goland.
When you look at this map and you place a mile scale you will see something interesting.
All 6 of these cities were located in such a way that there wasn’t any tribe or anyone within Israel who couldn’t be at one of these cities within 24 hours.
People I want you to know that Jesus is the way, not only is He the way, but He is an available Savior.
And He is only a prayer away, for him to become your savior.
There is absolutely nothing you have to do or to earn to come to Jesus, He is only a prayer away.
In Numbers 19 the roads to the cities of refuge were well marked and I want you to know that the way to Jesus is well marked for you to come to Him.
If you go anywhere in the bible, from Genesis to Revelations, from the tabernacle, to Romans you will find the cross of Jesus Christ for your life.
The road is well marked in justification by faith alone, and not by rituals or traditions, or even by the deeds of works.
In all the references on the refuges, it says why the cities are made.
The refuges were not just for a manslayer, though we are all guilty of manslaughter.
Do you remember what Jesus said on the cross?
There were seven statements Christ mentioned on the cross. The first was: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
We all need to see ourselves as a manslayer.
You may say wasn’t it the Jews who put Jesus on the cross?
Technically it was Christ who put Himself on the cross.
But theologically we all put Jesus on the cross.
Every one of us have sinned and placed Jesus on the cross and He said forgive them for they know not what they do.
We are all manslayers and we all need a city of refuge for our sinful lives.
You will never flee to a city of refuge unless you know that you need a Savior.
I believe the greatest problem in America, and around the world is that we are trying to get people saved instead of trying to get them lost.
Most people don’t believe they need a Savior. Until you see yourself as wretched, defiled, sinful, you will never be willing to run to a city of refuge.
Story: In Florida there is a Christian university, and there was a good-looking young pilot, he played football for Navy, he had it all going for him.
He was visiting a friend on campus and was invited to have dinner with the pastor one evening.
The pastor began to tell him about Jesus and the young man respectfully told the pastor, I have to tell you pastor I really have no need for God in my life.
A person will never get saved until they see the need in their life for Jesus Christ.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow and we need a city of refuge and the only refuge offered to man is in Jesus Christ and there is no other offered.
People didn’t run to these cities of refuges unless they knew they needed one, so you need to know you are in need of a Savior!
I want to inform you that the people of Israel did not come up with this idea for the cities of refuge.
They didn’t come up with the idea to escape their punishments.
Man didn’t appoint these cities.
God did.
And it was God who appointed and came up with the idea for our salvation not man or fiction writers.
Jesus Christ the Savior bought it, and the Holy Ghost taught it.
It is God alone who appointed our salvation.
God was not encouraged by our ideas, but through His love for you us.
In Numbers 35:15 it tells us that the cities of refuge were not just for Jews, but also for the foreigner or gentile.
So when one of these foreigners was in need of refuge, then God opened the city for their protection.
Romans 10:12
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
Salvation is not based upon our skin color, race, or by what we have done or who we are in this world, but salvation is for everyone who knows they are in need of a Savior.
What I want us to see today is found in Joshua 20
Our judgment was taken care of on the cross!
We never have to leave the city of refuge of Jesus Christ.
Jesus paid the price for our judgment.
Look with me: Joshua 20:6
6 And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.’ ”
Let me read to you from Hebrews 6:18-20
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
You see the difference is our Jesus, the high priest never dies.
You will see in Joshua that the man had to wait until the high priest died before they could leave the city of refuge.
When the priest died they were freed to go home.
That happened to us when Jesus died for our sins we were able to come home to our Father.
Once the high priest died those persons had to leave, and their enemies would most likely still be alive and could still take revenge.
But with Jesus, He never dies and the curse of sin has been broken, and our enemy Satan can’t get to us, because our high priest lives forever!!!!
Verse 7 is where I want to begin our message.
Joshua 20:7 (NKJV)
So they appointed Kedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah.
1.) Hebrew word Kedesh means Holy, sanctuary, righteousness, sanctified.
Philippians 3:9
And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.
People, in times of sin where are you going to flee?
You can flee to the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
When we have done wrong we can flee to the righteousness of Jesus we can flee to His holy sanctuary and be sanctified.
Jesus says you can turn your filthy rags of sin in for the robe of righteousness at the gates of Kedesh.
2.) Shechem The Hebrew word for shoulder, strength,
Joshua 20:7
7 So they appointed Kedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah.
Shechem, the shoulder and strength of God, where we can take our heavy burdens on the strengthened shoulder of God.
You can take all of your cares, worries, burdens to the refuge of Shechem and roll them on the shoulder of God.
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
He can shoulder our cares.
Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Whatever you are going through, whatever you have bringing you down you can take it and roll it on the shechem “God’s shoulder or strength.”
Luke 15:5 the Shepard left the 99 and went after the one lamb who strayed away from the flock.
Luke 15:5 says He took the Lamb and put it on His shechem, His shoulder.
In Psalms 62:7-8 it says we can take that load of sin and cast it upon the shoulder of God.
I don’t know what you are going through at this moment, but I do know Jesus is our refuge and His shoulder can handle ALL of our problems and burdens.
3.) Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah.
The Hebrew word for Kirjath or Hebron means: The seat of association, this deals with fellowship.
Hebron was the place for fellowship.
We have fellowship in the city of refuge.
He is available, “Jesus says call upon me and I will answer, and show thee great and mighty things.”
We can come into fellowship with him, who is better than any friend or church member or family member.
Do you know what fellowship is?
It is you and Christ!
He is waiting for us to draw to an intimate relationship with Him to fellowship with Him.
1 John 1:3 (NKJV)
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is our righteousness, Jesus is our shoulder, Jesus is our fellowship and it continues in verse 8.
4.) Bezer
Joshua 20:8 (NKJV)
8 And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.
The Hebrew word for Bezer: A fortified place, a place of strong hold. Nehiem 1:7 the Lord is good strong hold a Bezar.
Psalm 57:1
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.
I have noticed in my life that most of things don’t come a little bit here or a little bit there, or a little trouble here and a little trouble there.
I go through a week or a month with one big trainload of problems.
Cry unto the Lord, bring your calamities and troubles to His refuge of Bezar for God is a fortified place for your refuge.
Psalm 91:1-2
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Psalm 91:9
9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
Jesus is our Kedesh, He is our Shechem, He is our Hebron,
He is our Bezar my fortress when all my calamities are falling around I can go to the place of refuge in Christ.
5.)Remoth
Remoth means: Exaltation, the most high, a valued high place, a very high and special position.
Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV)
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
I see a city of refuge when I am down, when I am at my lowest in life I can look up to the city of exaltation, a valued high tower.
We need to see our position in Jesus Christ, for it says we sit in the heavenly places in our refuge of Jesus Christ.
Do you see your worth and value we have in Jesus Christ?
Psalm 9:9 (NKJV)
9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.
When you hit the bottom you need to flee quickly to the high place of God to the place of Remoth the refuge of high position.
6.)Golan
The word means: Joy to be so caught up in something of great happiness.
When you are without joy or happiness you can run to the refuge of Golan the place of unspeakable joy.
Psalm 59:16-17 (NKJV)
16 But I will sing of your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.
The passage I read from Hebrews said Jesus is an anchor for our soul.
What is that anchor for our soul?
The anchor for the soul is a person He is the city of refuge.
It is not like the Old Testament where, when you needed righteousness you had to go to Kedesh or if you needed a shoulder you went to Shechem.
No we have a sure anchor for our soul in Jesus Christ.
All 6 cities supplied the same needs for all the people who would come.
The point is, when you study the 6 cities of refuge you find the same in Christ.
(Call for Music)
If you are burdened today then come to His alter.
If you are in need of joy come and celebrate with praise.
If you are low, look to the high place, in the heavenly, for Christ is the fulfillment of all our needs.
If you are steeped in sin then come to the one who died for your sins.
If your need is protection or safety then come to the one who is at the right hand of God.
What ever the reason may be,
I don’t believe there is one in this room today, that doesn’t need to take refuge in Christ Jesus.
Everyone that will, please come, no one will know why you’re here, but you know, and God knows that we all need that city of refuge.
And Jesus is that refuge.
Please come.
