September 10, 2019
Do You Hear Me? Do You Hear Me Now?
Deuteronomy 19
Jeannie Lewis
Central Truth
Before God's people entered the Promised Land, Moses repeated the Lord's plan for His children. If these commandments and statutes were followed, His people would relate to each other in a way that honored and glorified Him.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 19:3
"You shall measure the distances and divide into three parts the area of the land that the LORD your God gives you as a possession, so that any manslayer can flee to them."
Deuteronomy 19
Laws Concerning Cities of Refuge
1 When the LORD your God cuts off the nations whose land the LORD your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, 2 you shall set apart three cities for yourselves in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess. 3 You shall measure the distances 1 19:3 Hebrew road and divide into three parts the area of the land that the LORD your God gives you as a possession, so that any manslayer can flee to them.
4 This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having hated him in the past— 5 as when someone goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down a tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live, 6 lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him fatally, though the man did not deserve to die, since he had not hated his neighbor in the past. 7 Therefore I command you, You shall set apart three cities. 8 And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land that he promised to give to your fathers— 9 provided you are careful to keep all this commandment, which I command you today, by loving the LORD your God and by walking ever in his ways—then you shall add three other cities to these three, 10 lest innocent blood be shed in your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, and so the guilt of bloodshed be upon you.
11 But if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities, 12 then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die. 13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood 2 19:13 Or the blood of the innocent from Israel, so that it may be well with you.
Property Boundaries
14 You shall not move your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set, in the inheritance that you will hold in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
Laws Concerning Witnesses
15 A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. 16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. 18 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil 3 19:19 Or evil person from your midst. 20 And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Dive Deeper | Deuteronomy 19
Watermark's Join The Journey contributors receive excellent instruction before starting our devotionals. We're told to pray before beginning, read the passage over and over, study it carefully, and make the devotional personal. I attempted to follow the instructions faithfully, praying my heart would be prepared for all God wanted to reveal. And what He revealed was this: I'm just like the people who roamed the wilderness with Moses. How often are children told "don't play in the street" or "don't run with scissors"? And how often must children hear instructions before understanding it's for their good?
Unfortunately I seldom "hear" things the first time. I'm God's child; He knows that about me (Psalm 139). And He knew that about the people preparing to enter the Promised Land. So He had Moses explain His commandments and statutes again. Moses had personally experienced God's compassion, mercy, and justice (Numbers 20:10-12). He recognized the cities of refuge were another one of God's provisions for His children. These cities were strategically located making access easy for anyone in need of refuge. It's probably difficult to relate to the manslayers, but we're all sinners (Romans 3:23). We all need the Lord's compassion and mercy. If you're not nodding your head in agreement, we need to talk.
So I read, prayed, and studied, and now I'll make it personal. My sweet husband was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2015. That isn't news I wanted to hear, but Doug and I knew our circumstances weren't a surprise to God. We shed lots of tears, but we didn't ask, "Why?" Instead, we immediately sought God's refuge (Psalm 46:1). We're experiencing His peace (Philippians 4:7) and comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) daily. We know God keeps His promises (Joshua 1:9). Honestly, cancer wouldn't be our desired platform for sharing His gospel, but God's blessings have been amazing. It's reassuring to know the Lord never changes; He loves us and remains compassionate, merciful, and just (Psalm 103:1-4, 13, 17).
I'm praying you "hear" this: the refuge God provided then is still available to us today (Psalm 62:7-8). Let us praise Him!
Discussion Questions
1. Are you relating to your family, friends, community group, and neighbors in a godly manner? Read Matthew 22:37-40.
2. Do you recognize all sin as an offense in God's eyes? Read John 8:7.
3. Where do you run for refuge—to the phone or to the Throne? Read Psalm 18:2.
4. Are you able to praise God in all circumstances? Read Habakkuk 3:17-18.