Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 20:2-3
"Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out of you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood."
I pondered on the whole city of refuge for the slayer that kills by accident. Giving protection from the avenger of blood. I pictured what it must have been like to accidentally cause someone's death. I've know people that experienced a child running out in front of their car and killing them. The turmoil and guilt they felt over such a thing. They were definitely innocent. Yet in the law of Moses taking a life would mean your life. Someone in the family of the deceased had the right to avenge their blood. I thought about how they also would stone a person back then for picking up sticks on the sabbath day. What is the difference in this case about taking the person's life?
I think the difference is their innocence. The protection was given to a person that was innocent, so their life would not be shed. If the law of Moses was to point to the ultimate sacrifice of my Savior, Jesus Christ, then the only innocent life to be shed was his. Not only would he protect the innocent, he would protect the avenger from shedding the innocent blood too. I reflected on how just and merciful that was.
Day 782
Showing posts with label cities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cities. Show all posts
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Friday, March 24, 2017
Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 35:2, 6
Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 35:2, 6
"Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities."
I read the word suburbs and had no idea that was a word found in the bible. I looked and found it used in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. In fact it's used 69 times in the Old Testament. I just never took note until now. Funny how something old can look new again. It made me think of how God has a divine plan for his cities and how they are laid out. It's exactly what happened with Joseph Smith receiving revelation on how Nauvoo was to be laid out. Then Brigham Young used that same gride system in Salt Lake which was carried forward throughout the West. It really is a marvelous system.
Then when I read about the cities for refuge, a place the manslayer could flee to, it made me think about the discussions on sanctuary cities today. Sounds like even God had that setup for Israel. I had not pondered much on the matter of sanctuary cities, but now that my eyes have taken note of this parallel in the bible, I will. I can tell it's one of those things that needs to marinate in my brain, and understanding will come on it later on.
Day 727
"Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities."
I read the word suburbs and had no idea that was a word found in the bible. I looked and found it used in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. In fact it's used 69 times in the Old Testament. I just never took note until now. Funny how something old can look new again. It made me think of how God has a divine plan for his cities and how they are laid out. It's exactly what happened with Joseph Smith receiving revelation on how Nauvoo was to be laid out. Then Brigham Young used that same gride system in Salt Lake which was carried forward throughout the West. It really is a marvelous system.
Then when I read about the cities for refuge, a place the manslayer could flee to, it made me think about the discussions on sanctuary cities today. Sounds like even God had that setup for Israel. I had not pondered much on the matter of sanctuary cities, but now that my eyes have taken note of this parallel in the bible, I will. I can tell it's one of those things that needs to marinate in my brain, and understanding will come on it later on.
Day 727
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