Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 March 23

“When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live” (Deuteronomy 19:1-5).

Today’s Morsel:  God knew that sometimes accidents would happen and that people would need a place of protection until they could have a fair trial.  Somewhat like today. A gunman discharges accidentally and kills someone, or some other kind of accidental death and the people would be angry with the person and may desire to take that person's life before a fair trial.  And so, for protection until a fair trial, God told the children of Israel to establish refuge cities that the person could flee to for protection until a fair trial could be held.  We see this with Abner who killed Joab’s brother accidentally.  Joab desired to get even with Abner.  And so Abner came to the city of Hebron, which was a city of refuge, where David was.  If he was inside the city, he was protected from harm.  But Joab lured him out of the city and killed him ( 2 Samuel 3).  Do you know what city to flee to when you are falsely accused? Solomon said, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). David states, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1).  Jesus, who is God as well as man, is the "refuge" for souls to fly unto for safety.  The men who brought the woman taken in adultery to Jesus while he was in the synagogue failed to realize that they were taking her to a city of refuge.  She received a fair trial right before them all and was able to walk away free.  Sin remitted.  Life changed.  A second chance given.  All because the Chief Judge Jesus was on the stand that day in the city of refuge.

Sing: 1. Where do I go when there's no one else to turn to? Who do I talk to when nobody wants to listen? Who do I lean on when there's no foundation stable? I go to the rock, I know he's able, I go to the rock.

    I go to the rock for my salvation, I go to the stone that the builders rejected, I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me, When the Earth all around me is sinking sand, On Christ, the solid rock I stand, When I need a shelter, when I need a friend I go to the rock.

      2. Where do I go, when the storms of life are threatening? Who do I turn to when those winds of sorrow blow? And is there a refuge, in the time of tribulation? I go to the rock, I know he's able, I go to the rock. 

    I go to the rock for my salvation, I go to the stone that the builders rejected, I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me, When the Earth all around me is sinking sand, On Christ, the solid rock I stand, When I need a shelter, when I need a friend I go to the rock.

Thought For Today:  Jesus is still our refuge.