The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 350

brother is o. mnrdoror'' (1 John iii. 15). Guilt attaches to motives not to ontward o.cLs. 'fherof?ro (,i) clo not jnrlge_ othern needlessly (i\fatt. vii. J) '; (b) when it is necessary to JtHlge do not be dec01ved by outward appea,rance but consider differ- ences of rnotivo (John vii. 24). ' II. 'fuE APPOINTMl.:NT OF CITrns OF REFUGE IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF Goo's GRACE OF REDEMPTION. (1) Gotl provides a city of refuge in Chri.,t. He is a refui:e from_ the clo.ngers tl!o.t beset us, from the consequences of our own acts, from t(i~ 1mlwellmg pow~r of sm. (2) Tlvisrcfuge isjor the most guilty. The Levitical cities were for the mnocent; Christ is a, refuge for the guilty. Men fled to them for justice; they flee to Christ for mercy (Matt. ix. 12, 13). (3) This refuge is in our midst. The six cities of refuge were situo.ted in convenient central positions at different points of the lo.nd, so tho.t every Israelite might be within reach of one. Yet even this o.rro.ngement could not secure safety in o.ll cases. Christ is in our midst. We ho.ve not to bring Him from heaven; He dwells amon" us. He is near and ready to i·eceive us o.t o.ny moment. None need perish on th; road to Christ. (4) This ref1tge must be entered to secure safety. It was vain for the fugitiYe Israelite merely to run in the clirection of the city, or even to be within sight of it, if he did not enter its precincts. It is useless for o. man only to have inclinations towards Christio.nity, to know the truth of it, to begin to turn Christward. He must seek Christ and come .to Him in trust and submission. As the fugitive must enter the city to be safe, so the sinner must be "in Christ" (Rom. viii. 1). (5) It is dangerous to delay entering this refuge. While the fugitive stayed, the avenger of blood was upon him. "Now" is the appointed time. The opportunity may soon pass.-W. F. A. Ve,·s. 2, 3.-Danger and safety . .The Book of Joshua supplementR the Pentateuch. It tells us of the execution of the behests contained in the law. Hence it preaches a continuo.l lesson of obedience. How far do our lives exhibit a conformity of practice to gospel precepts? Sw·ely God says to us, as to Joshua, "Be mindful of the commandment given by the hand of My servant." I. A PREVALENT CUSTOM MODIFIED. The rights of kinsmen were various and strongly insisted on. The exaction of vengeance for the deo.th of a relative was deemed among the most important of these rights. The nearest kinsman became the "o.venger." To abrogo.te such an institution might have been impossible; at any rate, it wo.s wisely ordained tho.t particular rules should regulate its operation and soften its character. Legislation must ever have regard to the prevalent opinion, must not be too far in advance of the age. Tl:Liij principle of clirecting popular thoughts to more wholesome channels was recognised by the Church of the early centw·ies, when it sought to lead men awo.y from orgies and revelries to joyous Christian festivals, and missionaries of modern days have adopted this plan with success. We may alter the ship's course even if we cannot absoln ely check her progress. The modifico.tion of Goelism introduced (1) Acknowledg, d the sanctity of human life. (2) Distinguished between the quality and the matter of actions- a vital distinction in ethics, which regards the intention as well o.s the consequence of beho.viour, before it can be censured or approved of. To slay a man unwittingly wo.s not murder. On the other hand, Jesus Christ afterwo.nls showe,1 that the indulgence of a.n angry thought towo.rds a bl'Other is an infraction of the sixth commandment. So also 1 John iii. 15. (3) Placed this department of equity under the special supervi_sion of the reliJious authorities. The places of refuge were choBen from the Levitical cities, whose rulers might be trusted to co.rry out the law in respect both of justice ancl of mercy. The unintentional man-slayer was considered as the prisoner of the high priest, and on the deo.th of the latter wo.s releo.sed. Religion never looks more beo.ut~l than when. she wenrs her b_erngn go.rb of mercy, protect;ng the helpless and fnenclless. It 1s _part o_f her office to prevent injustice o.nd oppression. The laws of God are deposited with t~e Church as a sacred t1·ust fo1· the benefit of mo.nkind. How she perverts her functions when she employs her strength in bitte1· enmity o.nd persecution I II. POINTS OF RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN THE CITIES OF REFUGE AND THE S.U.V.-1.• 2(18 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. [ CH, XX, 1-9.