Deuteronomy 19:1 says, When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; Verse two adds, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. Moses said after the LORD their God had removed the people from the Promised Land and the people of Israel possessed it, they were to set aside three cities in the midst of the land. They may have gone in and fought against the people there, but it was God Who gave them the victory, just as He gives us victory over the world today. Verse three continues, Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. Moses said they were to prepare a way and divide the country into three parts, with one of these three sanctuary cities located in each part with easy access to it so that anyone who accidentally killed another person could flee there for safety. We today, if we have accidentally killed someone, usually have the law to protect us, but even if it doesn't, we have the everlasting sanctuary of our relationship with Jesus Christ to protect us spiritually if we are a Christian. Verse four states, And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; Moses said that those who had killed someone accidentally without any anger toward them could flee to one of these sanctuary cities and live. Verse five adds, As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: Moses gave the example of a man accidentally hitting his neighbor with an ax when cutting wood and the neighbor dying. In this case, the man could flee to the sanctuary city and his neighbors family could not seek revenge against him. Of course, we are not to seek revenge against our neighbors anyway as followers of Christ, nor should they seek revenge against us. Verse six continues, Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. Moses said these cities were to be set in three places so that anyone could get to one of them before he could be overtaken by the avenger while his anger was still hot. This would protect both the one who had accidentally killed the man, and also the avenger who would have killed the man unjustly if he killed him in anger out of revenge. God's law often protects us when we don't even realize it when we are acting out of anger. Verse seven concludes, Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee. Moses said that he, under God's direction and authority, commanded them to separate these three sanctuary cities. Verse eight declares, And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers; Though Moses said if God should enlarge their coast, or land, then it was dependent on the obedience of the people and not on God's faithfulness to fulfill His promise. God's blessings on us today are never based on God failing to keep His promises, but are based on our obedience to Him after we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Verse nine adds, If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three: Moses then said that if they obeyed God and kept His commandments and He enlarged their land, then they were to separate three additional sanctuary cities. Verse ten continues, That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee. This was to be done so that innocent blood would not be shed in the Promised Land. As Christians, we should never be guilty of seeking the harm of others because we feel that they have done us wrong. Verse eleven states, But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: Verse twelve adds, Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. Moses said that if someone deliberately killed someone else and fled to a sanctuary city that the elders were to turn him over to the avenger. We cannot expect God to deliver us from the consequences of deliberate sin, even if we are a Christian, even though we are delivered from the everlasting punishment of that sin. Verse thirteen continues, Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee. Moses said they were not to have pity on the murderer, but should put away the guilt of innocent blood that he had shed by delivering him to the avenger to face the penalty of his sin. If they did, then it would go well with them. We cannot act out of pity for the willful sinner, but even if we empathize with them, we must not try to release them from facing the worldly penalty for their sin. Again, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, the everlasting penalty of sin has already been paid spiritually, but that does not release us from facing the law of man when we break it.
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