Today's sermon was one of the best i've heard since we started on the book of Joshua, considering it's such a weird passage (Jos 20:1-9, "Cities of Refuge"). It appeared strange to me and i thought it's gonna be one of those boring passages (just like those "xxxx is the son of xxxx... kinda passages) but Wei-En brought a whole new perspective to it when he preached today.
The essence of the passage was the process of convicting Israelites who committed murder or manslaughter back then, and that God needed his land to be "clean" as he dwells among them. what a passage ya? BUT... It is more than just tat. How wei-en turned it around for our application was "Do we give people a fair trial before we pass judgement on them?" God gave his people a fair trial (as can be seen from the passage), even if they were murderers. Do we, as people of God, give our fellow bros & sisters (and pre-believers) a fair trial before we pass our judgements on them? I am sure we are guilty of this all the time. I shall be the first to admit. I am critical about ppl and i do jump to conclusions all the time. people whom i have bitched to for the past 2 mths abt my work situation should know i am sooooo guilty of it. oh well, today's sermon really served as a timely reminder. What more, i really liked the way wei-en drew a parallel of the conviction system with what God has done in the new testiment. What happens in the conviction process is that if one is guilty of either murder or manslaughter, he would be sent to a "city of refuge" where he will wait for his trial. Cities of refuge are where these gulity people can seek protection and they are also accessible to EVERYONE - Jews and non-Jews (this can be seen from the close proximity of all the cities). If they are convicted as murderers, then the Avenger of Blood (actual term in the Bible) will kill them, as only blood can atone for another life taken. only then will God's vengence be satisfied. However, if they were convicted with manslaughter, they are to stay at the city of refuge till the high priest in that city dies. Only then can they return to their homes. The reason is the same, only blood can atone for the life taken... and in this case, the guilt of the man who is convicted is transferred to the high priest when he dies. What's the parallel then? Jesus. It's amazing how "Jesus" is found even in the old testiment and how God's ways are so consistent throughout the ages. Jesus is our High Priest and when he died on the cross, he bears all our guilt and that's why we can be released of our guilt and not be threatened by the evil one anymore. Moreover, Jesus is also made available to all! How amazing is that? We're just a prayer away from Him. In the past, they had to walk 1 day to get to any city of refuge. Think about it... I think the Bible is amazing... God is so awesome! =)
The essence of the passage was the process of convicting Israelites who committed murder or manslaughter back then, and that God needed his land to be "clean" as he dwells among them. what a passage ya? BUT... It is more than just tat. How wei-en turned it around for our application was "Do we give people a fair trial before we pass judgement on them?" God gave his people a fair trial (as can be seen from the passage), even if they were murderers. Do we, as people of God, give our fellow bros & sisters (and pre-believers) a fair trial before we pass our judgements on them? I am sure we are guilty of this all the time. I shall be the first to admit. I am critical about ppl and i do jump to conclusions all the time. people whom i have bitched to for the past 2 mths abt my work situation should know i am sooooo guilty of it. oh well, today's sermon really served as a timely reminder. What more, i really liked the way wei-en drew a parallel of the conviction system with what God has done in the new testiment. What happens in the conviction process is that if one is guilty of either murder or manslaughter, he would be sent to a "city of refuge" where he will wait for his trial. Cities of refuge are where these gulity people can seek protection and they are also accessible to EVERYONE - Jews and non-Jews (this can be seen from the close proximity of all the cities). If they are convicted as murderers, then the Avenger of Blood (actual term in the Bible) will kill them, as only blood can atone for another life taken. only then will God's vengence be satisfied. However, if they were convicted with manslaughter, they are to stay at the city of refuge till the high priest in that city dies. Only then can they return to their homes. The reason is the same, only blood can atone for the life taken... and in this case, the guilt of the man who is convicted is transferred to the high priest when he dies. What's the parallel then? Jesus. It's amazing how "Jesus" is found even in the old testiment and how God's ways are so consistent throughout the ages. Jesus is our High Priest and when he died on the cross, he bears all our guilt and that's why we can be released of our guilt and not be threatened by the evil one anymore. Moreover, Jesus is also made available to all! How amazing is that? We're just a prayer away from Him. In the past, they had to walk 1 day to get to any city of refuge. Think about it... I think the Bible is amazing... God is so awesome! =)
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