THE CITY OF REFUGE PART TWO

>Joshua 20:7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 On the east side of the Jordan of Jericho they designated Bezer in the desert on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh.  

 

THE SIGNIFICANTS OF THE NAMES OF THE CITY OF REFUGE 

 

1.    Kedesh was in the northern part of the country and its name means ‘holiness.’ The Bible says, ‘without holiness no one will see the Lord.’ Heb 12:14. Scripture says that we’ve all sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none of us who are righteous, no not one. We’re all guilty. We all deserve to be punished. We must flee to a place of refuge Eph 1:7-8; Gen. 19:17; Rom 6:23 Isaiah 61:10  

2.    The second city was Shechem. Shechem means ‘shoulder’. Which is strength or support. We read in Deut 33:12 Who will save you from the penalty of your sins? Jesus is our burden bearer Matt 11:28-30 Isaiah 53:4; 9:6 Ps 40:17 

3.    The third city listed is Hebron. Hebron you will remember was the home of Caleb. It’s where the twelve spies saw the grapes growing and the milk and honey flowing and the name means ‘fellowship.’ How can a guilty man have fellowship with the one he has sinned against? 1 John 1:6-9. Eph 2:13 

4.    The fourth city was Bezer. Bezer means ‘fortress.’ Can you see how these cities teach us about a growing relationship with Jesus Christ? A man must first obtain holiness in Kedesh and then he finds security in Shechem. As he continues to grow, he discovers the joy of fellowship in Hebron and then security in the stronghold of Bezer. Jesus said, John 10:28-30 Do not leave the city of refuge. Rom 8:35 Ps 18:2 Prov 18:10 Ps 9:9, 10 Rom 8:1; Isaiah 26:4 

5.    Then there was Ramoth. The name Ramoth means ‘exalted.’ It was a high place and it represents the place every true, born-again believer desires to be. We long for the day when we will be with the Lord Jesus Christ and will forever exalt His holy name. In addition, it’s a place where the believer himself is exalted. Heb 9:11-15 Psalm 22:12-13Phil. 2:9 

6.    Lastly, there was Golan. Golan means ‘rejoicing.’ One day my beloved brethren, I am going to be rejoicing forever more in my eternal city of refuge. Heb 6:18; 1 Peter 4:12-13 Matt. 25:21John 15:11