Sermon Notes

 

September 14, 2014 | Jesus in the City

 

Dr.  Burnie R.  Burnside

 

Joshua 20:1-9

 

We find Jesus throughout the OT, and today we find him in some cities:  “Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood” (vv. 1-3).

 

These cities of refuge clearly represent a picture of the salvation that is to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The Purpose of these Cities.

 

1. They Were to Serve As a Refuge
   
   
   1. “Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly” (v. 9).
   2.  
2. They Were to Serve As a Reminder - In the OT they had a physical place of refuge, and we today have a spiritual place to run!
3.  
4. We killed Jesus. Perhaps unknowingly or unwittingly. But we did it.

 

 

The Cities of Refuge are a Picture of Salvation (vs. 4-6, 9).

 

1. They had the Power to Save so it pictures our salvation.
2.  
3. They Had the Power to Secure Conditionally.
4.  
   1. “If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous. If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done” (Ezekiel 33:12-13).

 

 

The Picture in the Names and their meanings (v. 7-8).

 

1. Kedesh = place of holiness or righteousness.
   
   
2. Shechem = shoulder.
   
   
3. Hebron = fullness or fellowship.
   
   
4. Bezer = fortress, strong hold or fortification.
   
   
5. Ramoth = heights; exalted.
   
   
6. Golan = separated.

 

 

The Proximity.

 

1. No matter where you are, there is a refuge close by.
   
   
2. God isn’t hiding from you. He doesn’t play keep away from us.

 

If you are tired of running from your sins and of feeling trapped in a hopeless situation, I would like to invite you to come to Jesus.