A Place To Run To

Philosophy View of Run

• Move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time.

• Pass or cause to pass quickly in a particular direction.

Biblical View of Run

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah

40:31 KJV

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 KJV

Have you ever been responsible for something that you consistently did what you mean to do?

God alone understands the motives of peoples hearts.

Having distributed the land to the tribes of Israel, the Lord instructed Joshua to set up regional courts to deal with capital offences namely manslaughter, that is when a person killed another person accidentally. If retribution for a death were to be left in the hands of the victim’s family members, there would be endless bloody feuds and certain miscarriages of justice. God did not want that, he had already told Moses to set up aside six cities of refuge placed strategically throughout the land.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan.

Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.

Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

Numbers 35:10-15 KJV

These city belonged to the Levites who were the guardians of the law, refuge was offered to those who had caused accidental death.

That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:3 KJV

Not to those who had committed premeditated murder. Premeditated murder is the crime of wrongfully and intentionally causing the death of another human being after rationally considering the timing or method of doing so. Premeditated murder is one of the most serious forms of homicide, and is punished more severely than manslaughter or other types of murder - often with the death penalty or a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die.

Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

Numbers 35:16-21 KJV

Once in the safe city, the man who killed someone accidentally would stand trial by the community. Those who were found innocent were given a place to live among other people in that city.

And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

Joshua 20: 6 KJV

What a picture, there are things we do that we know are wrong, and there are sins we commit unknowingly. When this happens God is our judge. We may flee from him for he has provided a city of refuge for us. Just before he died, Moses told Israel the eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Deuteronomy33:27 KJV

Later, Boaz acknowledged that Ruth, who had come to live among the Israelites, had left her father and mother and her own land to live among strangers, May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wing you have come to take refuge, reward you fully.

The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Ruth 2:12 KJV

In Psalm 9 David gives us reassurance, he also recognised that we have a shelter that we can run to when we are oppressed and in trouble.

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9 KJV

Few Psalms highlighted that David loved the image of running from his enemy to a place of refuge:

Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

Psalm 16:1 KJV

Shew thy marvellous loving kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

Psalm 17:7 KJV

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Psalm 59 : 16 KJV

The prophet Nahum also talk to God as a refuge for us in the time of trouble the Lord is good. When trouble comes he is a strong refuge.

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Nahum 1:7 KJV

Questions to ask yourself :

Are you in trouble?

Are you a victim of circumstances?

Have you done something wrong unintentionally?

Here is your answers:

Flee to your city of refuge.

God himself is the city.

God himself is judge. Talk to him. He may want you to right a wrong.

To settle misunderstanding or simply wait patiently with him for the storm to pass.

READ AND BE BLESSED