JESUS today YOU will SAVE me.
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Read Proverbs Chapter 5
Joshua 20
1 The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying,
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6 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.
7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
The POFW Daily Bible Reading 
God willingly I wouldn’t want anyone else blood on my hands. Praise you Lord my Savior Prince of Peace. All mighty is He.
children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
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If the relatives of the victim come to avenge the killing, the leaders must not release the slayer to them, for he killed the other person unintentionally and without previous hostility. 6But the slayer must stay in that city and be tried by the local assembly, which will render a judgment.
Our God is a great and glorious God. He is full of grace and truth. He instructed the people of Israel to make cities of refuge because he loves each and everyone of us. God doesn’t just give up on us because we have an accident, but He loves us enough to give refuge.
Amen brother
HALLELUJAH Bother.
Verse 3 MSG “so that anyone who kills a person accidentally—that is, unintentionally—may flee there as a safe place of asylum from the avenger of blood.” Same verse NIV “so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.” This reminds me of what has been spoken about our church being that safe place, that refuge and protection that many will seek in these last days.
Jesus is my city of refuge
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
I do not need anything else than Jesus He is my refuge, my strength, my hiding place, my shield, and my covering. I fear nothing as long as I have Jesus.
2 Samuel 22:
3. The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
4. I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Jesus is my rock, hold onto him no matter what and ne will pull you thru
Joshua 20:1-2 (NLT)
1) The LORD said to Joshua,
2) Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses.
The cities of refuge were for the Israelites and the foreigners who lived among them in their time trouble.
God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. (Ps. 46:1)
Thank You JESUS for being our Refuge, our Shelter, our Protector, our Hiding Place !
““Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed. “Upon reaching one of these cities, the one who caused the death will appear before the elders at the city gate and present his case. They must allow him to enter the city and give him a place to live among them. If the relatives of the victim come to avenge the killing, the leaders must not release the slayer to them, for he killed the other person unintentionally and without previous hostility. But the slayer must stay in that city and be tried by the local assembly, which will render a judgment. And he must continue to live in that city until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the accident. After that, he is free to return to his own home in the town from which he fled.””
Joshua 20:2-6 NLT
So thankful that God is my Refuge and Strength. I know that I can call to Him and he will answer. Oh how I love Jesus my Lord and my Savior.
“Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, [Ps. 91:1, 14.] There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. [Luke 4:10, 11; Heb. 1:14.] You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. [Luke 10:19.] Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness–trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
Psalm 91:9-16 AMP
Retaliation.
I am sure we have been wronged. I am also sure that we have all wanted immediate revenge, retaliation or justice. However, has there been the time that our immediate action resulted in another wrong doing to an innocent party? I have been on both sides of this scenario; I have been the accuser of an innocent person and the innocent accused. Of course, I have also been a guilty accused as well.
The point is, allowing time for a situation to sit sometimes is the right thing to do. There are times that immediate action is needed and warranted. However, rash decisions without the knowledge of all the facts can drastically change the perspective of a given situation. These refuge cities provided this time for the accused to be safe until they can face their accuser in a more controlled environment.
Grow with Jesus Amen
9 These cities were set apart for all the Israelites as well as the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the local assembly. (NLT)
We have heard many times how we must work to allow POFW to be a place of refuge. As we move, that new land is not only for us as the church body but for the foreigners who are seeking a new life, who are seeking mercy and a place to be free from their past. Just like God made POFW a safe place, a place of healing and deliverance for each of us, we must remember to show ourselves friendly so others may come and have the same opportunity.
“There is room in the house of God for EVERYBODY.”
MY REFUGE AND STRENGTH
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
It seems that everything created by GOD is dependent on something. For creation to exist and grow there needs to be a source to supply it. Our human bodies need air, water and food to even hope to exist. Our soul and spirit need a place of refuge. A place to retreat in time of trouble. Where do we go in time of trouble? What is our refuge? Who is our refuge?
GOD in his infinite wisdom saw the need for refuge and charged Israel to appoint cities of refuge. A city where people could be safe in times of trouble and investigation or trial.
The Psalmist declared the believers REFUGE:
Psalms 57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
Psalms 59:16 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.
Psalms 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Psalms 71:7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
Psalms 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalms 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
Psalms 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
GOD himself, JESUS is our REFUGE and the church (The POFW) should be a REFUGE to and for the lost and hurting. GOD has not given us the church to judge every person, case and matter. The Church that JESUS died for is to be a place of REFUGE for people to be safe, protected and corrected.
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Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. Romans 14:13
God help us to not be a stumblingblock to our brothers and sisters but a helping hand. I personally do not want to be the reason someone didn’t come to the Lord. I pray that I am not the stumbling block in anywhere I go.
“When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them: According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath–serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.”
Joshua 19:49-50 KJV
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
God blessed his people in that day were they would not receive immediate judgment for their transgressions. Instead they would be able to be judged fairly and by the people of God. It reminds me a lot of the modern-day judgement system and how we are judged by a jury of our peers it also reminds me of the house of God today I place that I consider a House of Refuge. A place that is not judgemental but is open and available to whosoever Will. in the house of God He is the judge and his judgments are righteous and he allows our sins our transgressions and our failures to be washed away in his precious blood!
5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
It’s important we obey the man of God and/ or the authorities in our spiritual lives. There are things that happen in life we don’t understand and think we know the solution to our situations. Although, even through all our mess, there’s an order and structure God placed which we must follow despite how we feel. This order may seem unfair to US, but there’s a reason God has it and all we must do is trust and obey.
1 The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying,
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
Cities of refuge are given as a safe haven until the accident could be heard by those in charge and a judgement made in this cause. The sanctuary in the church is defined as a holy, sacred place, a refuge, a safe haven. Here we have the opportunity to come THE judge and repent and wipe our record clean. The difference here is that we are guilty and yet the great God of heaven extends his mercy and grace to us as sinners and transforms us from darkness into His marvelous light. Thank God for the blood!
It’s also a refuge from the storms of life that come to the just and the unjust alike.
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
The Lord is my refuge and strength!!! Lets bring the souls to Jesus!!! Only God can help us through our trials and tribulations.
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
1 The LORD said to Joshua, 2“Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses.
God recognizes that man will take matters into their own hands, and look for revenge not matter what. Even if it was an accident, revenge will be on their minds, just like gang members. With these refuge cities in place, one can escape to and recieve a fair trial.
God makes a way when there seems to be no way. Cities of sanctuary were set up for mercy. Israelites were very well versed in the laws God has given them and even though many of the laws seemed to have no wiggle room God made room for mercy. Accidents happen and mercy is extended. Thank you Jesus his mercy is new every morning!
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation
Joshua 20:5 (Message)
5 “If the avenger of blood chases after him, they must not give him up—he didn’t intend to kill the person; there was no history of ill-feeling.
The Lord understands that accidents happen. People make mistakes unintentionally. He isn’t unreasonable or disagreeable. He loves us and has provided a way for us. Even if we have an accident in God’s eyes it isn’t over.
God is god
Even back then God gave second chances to the people who did do it on purpose
1 The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying,
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
The is my fortress and my strong tower. That is what comes to mind. We should know that God cares for us and knows that we are not perfect and will make mistake yet in the midst of trouble he will be there for us.
Psalm 18:2 NLT
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
One day we too will stand before the Judge, and have to give an account for every soul that we have caused to fall by the way side. I think of all the people who have fallen, and have not come back to repentance, and I ask myself if I might have had something, anything, to do with their fall.
For this reason we all need to know, that there could be a high cost for mamy of our decisions, even if we don’t immediately see the costs.
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
refuge
REF’UGE, n. L. refugium, refugio; re and fugio, to flee.
1. Shelter or protection from danger or distress.
2. That which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity; a strong hold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; any place inaccessible to an enemy.
3. An expedient to secure protection or defense.
This is what God had planned His children; too appoint cities of refuge. God is our refuge and strength. He wants us to be safe and in strong comfort. I look to God for refuge, when the enemy attacks. This is our adversary; he tries destroy the church, but not POFW. We our the conquerors; no matter the situation I have overcome a huge obstacle, my tongue.
1Pe 5:8 Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour;
I’m calling him out today; no longer will he pull me back to the world. There is a song by the Casting Crowns and I think this verse fits perfect, ‘ What if the church, for heaven’s sake; Finally stepped up to the plate; Took a stand upon God’s promise; And stormed hell’s rusty gates.’ It’s my time to storm the gates and tell the devil he DON’T BELONG IN MY LIFE OR MY FAMILY!!!!
Psa 46:1 To the Chief Musician. For the sons of Korah. A Song “For the Virgins”. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2 Therefore we will not fear when the earth changes, and when mountains are slipping into the heart of the seas.
Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His shelter, in the secrecy of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me up on a rock.
Psa 27:6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies, my encirclers; and I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle. I will sing; yea, I will sing praises to Jehovah.
Jer 16:19 O Jehovah, my strength and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the nations shall come to You from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and there is no profit in them.
“These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.” The word of God (Jesus) clearly identifies that refuge was never intended for every occurrence, and therefore it should still not be. Before one questions the process, one should be mindful of the fact it was not of man, but of God (Judge). One should also be mindful that while there may be some things that are unpleasant; they are still a necessary part of the process. Finally consideration should be given to the consequences of do nothing. Dear God, bless us that we may be a God fearing Nation, in Jesus name. God Bless America, Israel, Jerusalem, and you all in Jesus name, Amen!
“That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.” The Lord was well aware tragic events could happen, as such a way of refuge was made. The Lord was also aware of what would be required for salvation, which is why he made away for all. God help us that we all may see the way you have made, in Jesus name.
Psal s_46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Thank you Jesus for your word! Thank you Jesus for giving us time to repentance and make things right!
This chapter is an account of Joshua setting up refuge cities for those who killed accidentally. He was instructed to follow the commandment given to Moses regarding these cities.
““A person shall escape for refuge to one of these cities, stand at the entrance to the city gate, and lay out his case before the city’s leaders. The leaders must then take him into the city among them and give him a place to live with them.”
Joshua 20:4 MSG
http://bible.com/97/jos.20.4.msg
There is security set in place for those who need refuge
3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
Wow even God understood that accidents would happen and he created a safe place for those who needed one. In the same way he created to church to be a safe place for them that need one
It is important for us not to judge too quickly events that happen around us. Sometimes we say that we are judging fruit, but really we are judging people. These cities of refuge were set up to help those people who might wrongfully be judged. So how about the spiritual? Is the church our city of refuge in today’s society? Or is it just another place where people are judged? I think it all comes down to the hearts or those who attend. If the congregation points fingers and blames, they are judging. If he congregation leads people to the path of righteousness, guiding them to holiness then thy might be acting more like the city of refuge. When we step out of God’s shoes and let him fill them instead of us looking like clowns (because the shoes are too big, and because we make fools of ourselves) then God can truly draw men/women unto him. We should be like arrows on the sign pointing to God, not a voice of condemnation.
4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
We as a church need to be a city of refuge for people who are lost in sin. Other people, the world and even other churches may judge them on what they have done, but we shouldn’t so that they can see the light of Christ and come to see him as their salvation.
1. THE LORD also spake unto Josh’-u-a, saying, 2. Speak to the children of Is’-ra-el, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Mo’-ses: 3. That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. THANK YOU JESUS !!!!