The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 349

Ill. THE mroRTANCE OF THE SPIRIT ABOVE THE FORM OF EVERY DF.ED. The city of n°fugc was a }H'ov:ision for the protection of the nrnnslayer from l1twloss an<l indiscriminate ,;o]encc, Urnt he might be subject to judicial inquiry ns to the real meaning and intent of what he had done. He mnst be brought before a tr:ibunnl of the people. The'' congregation" mustjndge between the slnyerand the avenger, and if it is shown thflt he was not U1e enemy of the mnn slain, nor "sought his harm." he shall he deli,·ered (Numb. xxxv. 22-25). Here was a striking witness t.o the principle that it is the spirit, the puqlose, that determines the real quality of every dee,l. Go<l is t.he "Searcher of hearts," and He would lrnve man, according to the measure of his insight, estimate everything by what gives birth to it there, The " Sermon on the Mount" is a Divine lesson on the importance of the spirit above the form (Matt. v. 21, et seq.). The law of Christ is o. "discerner of·the thoughts and intents of the heart." It is the motiYo that determines tho merit or demerit of every deed. God has giYen us no power infallibly to trnce or weigh the motives of men, but as far e.s they are disclosed so let us judge. IV. THE BLENDING OF JUSTICE WITH MERCY IN THE TREATMENT OF TilANS• GRESSION. The city of refuge bore witness to tile principle of equity between me.n and man, e.nd equity is the qualification of law by reason and llumo.nity. The manslayer, however innocent, most suffer for the ill that he has done, but safe- guards a.re proYided against his being subject to e.ny Jle.grant wrong. Whatever it may cost him he must flee to the city, bot it is not more than six miles clistant and the wny is clear. He loses his liberty, home, perhaps property, but he is safe. In e.ll this there is a remarkable blending of regard for the majesty of law and the sanctity of social order, with kindly protection of human weakness.. It is full of instruction. A true social economy is the due be.lance of reciprocal rights, interests, &c. We deal righteously with each other only when mercy tempers justice, when law is interpreted liberally and applied with charity. V. AN ANALOGY IS OFTEN INSTITUTED BETWEEN THE CITY. OF REFUGE AND THE oosPEL WAY OF sAL,ATION. There is an essential mark of difference between the two; tile one we.s for the protection of the innocent, the other is God's provision for the redemption of the guilty. But tlley are alike in this, that they tell of shelter from the fate.I stroke of the avenger. We a.re reminded bow- " All the lives that are were forfeit once, And He who might the vantage best ho.ve took Folllld out the remedy." "\CTien He " maketh inquisition for blood," then she.11 it be found that " there is no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus," who llave "fled for refuge to le.y hold on the hope set before tbem."-W. Ver. 2.-Cities of refuge. I. TRE APPOINTMENT OF CITIES OF REFUGE EXEMFLI• FIES UNITERSAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE. "Te do not need such cities because we can attain the end they were set apart to accomplish by simpler means, but we are ce.lled to obsen-e the principles they were instituted to maintain. (1) The justice 1ohich brings retribution on offenders is natural and right. But this must be distinguished from ,engeance. Justice seeks the honour of law and the maintenance of tile public good. Vengeance aims only at the infliction of harm on the offender. The latter is unchristian and wicked. (2) We should not be hasty in passing iudgment. The city of refuge afforded time for evidence to be collected and o. mature judgment to be formed. First impressions are often deceptive. Anger blinds judgment. /3) It is well to refer our quarrels to the decision of others. The avenger of blood we.s required to refer his case to the congregation. Intei:es~d persons can rarely form impartial opinions. It ia well to resort to Chnstian lil'Litre.tion when differences cannot be settled amicably in private (Matt. xviii. 1_5- l 7J. I 4) _It is difficult to jurige of the conduct of others, bec(1!U,se of our u1:certainty tU to their motives. The man-slayer may be a murderer or he may be mnocently ~oncerned in a pure e,ccident. Thus he may be guiltless, while the person wh_o mflicts no ha.nu on another may be a murderer e.t heart. " Whosoever he.teth hli en. xx. 1-0,l 'flIE BOOK OF JO8HUA. 2'J7