Another great morning! Joshua chapter 20.
This chapter is all about protection for the presumed Innocent until a court hearing could occur and then Justice given for the given situation. Protection was important because there would be revenge seekers who would want to take justice into their own hands motivated by hatredness.
Justice must be served by carrying out the law not by revenge seekers. If I wronged someone or do something that hurts another, how do I want to be treated? With mercy. Yes I want justice but I want it to be done with the element of Mercy and not with hatredness nor and with a heart of revenge. So do I treat those who offend me the same way as I want to be treated? Is my heart full of mercy or with hatredness and revenge? God showed Mercy to us through his son Jesus by giving us new life so we can escape God's judgement. Such Mercy that he showed us, we are to show others. I'm not saying that we should excuse the wrong and there should never be Justice for the wrong, but it must be done with the right motives.
The book of Amos and James says that if we want God to judge us with the element of mercy then we are to show Mercy to others. But if our motives are done without Mercy then we are told God's judgment will be without Mercy for us. Mercy triumphs over judgement.
I’m looking at James 2:8-13 today. Sections of this passage have been coming up this past week so I thought that I would dig into it some more and share.
“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
May we show mercy and forgiveness to others as Jesus shows mercy and forgiveness to us as we see from the parable in Matthew 18:21-35.
Here’s a video related to this that’s from the perspective of children. https://youtu.be/Mu1mlrYxbec
The process of going to the refuge city, awaiting judgment, then if it was determined it was an accidental death with no intent, the person could live in the refuge city until the high priest died at which time the person could go free … is a beautiful depiction of our salvation. Not only do we have refuge in Christ but we’re also free because our High Priest died for us on the Cross.
The refuge cities were strategically located and accessible just like Jesus is available and accessible to each of us who says … I’m guilty. I need protection. I need refuge. I need salvation. Thank you, Lord!