The Cities of Refuge picture gospel promises and privileges, and set forth the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The scriptures continually speak of the Lord as the refuge and defense of His people. The following passages are a few of many that speak thus:

"But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge" (Psalm 94:22).

"I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust" (Psalm 91:2).

"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower,

and my refuge . . . . " (II Sam. 22:2-3).

"We . . . . have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us" (Heb. 6:18).

Canon Clayton has said, "Typically  . . . . these cities show us three things, our danger, our refuge, our safety."

Dr. Thomas Manton has said, "Christ is the believer's City of Refuge, or the alone sanctuary for distressed souls."

Of Christ as the believer's refuge, Charles Wesley wrote:

"Other refuge have I none,
     Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.
Leave, Oh leave me not alone,
     Still support and comfort me."

Again, the same author has written:

"Our city of defence to Thee,
     From the avenger, Lord, we flee,
          Who in Thy death confide;
Justice divine pursues in vain
     The men whom God Himself hath slain,.
          When sheltered in Thy side."

The Cities of Refuge set forth the perfect and ample security which is in Christ. They are beautiful and expressive types of Christ; awakening faith, hope, and light in our souls, and causing us to rejoice in Him. The gospel is here, the gospel setting forth Christ as the sure and eternal refuge. So significant was this type that it never failed until the cross of Christ was reared.

THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE ORDAINED OF GOD

"Then ye shall appoint you cities of refuge for you . . . . ; " (Num. 35: 11).

They were divinely instituted and promised because of the sanctity of the life of man. They were places of ransom and redemption. They were places of justice and judgment properly exercised. It was intended that they should afford shelter to those who had committed homicide unintentionally and accidentally, or : u as the scripture says, "at unawares," or by error (Num. 35:11). Such is always possible through accident and without intention, therefore God in justice provided the refuge cities and laws governing the same.

They were prepared for refuge from the enemy, and thus they typify salvation is ordained and provided of God, in which we find refuge from the enemy of our souls.

THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE EASILY ACCESSIBLE

There were three cities on each side of the River Jordan. They were distributed at points equidistant and were at points accessible to all. Two were in the northern part of the land, two were in the central part, and two were in the southern section of Canaan. Vantage points were selected for their location. All obstructions along the way were removed, and sign posts were put up to point the way. At every crossroad was a sign "Miklat," meaning "Refuge." It was in plain characters so that he that ran might read. All hills were leveled wherever possible, and the streams were bridged. There was not the least hindrance for the runner to meet in his flight.

The accessibility of the refuge cities speaks to us of the way of salvation through Christ, which is accessible to all. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man' cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE PLACES OF ABSOLUTE SECURITY

Instantaneous security was obtained by the person passing through the gate. The moment he crossed the threshold he was as safe as God's provision could make him. He was free from danger. His cause was taken up by the elders of the city, and he was in absolute safe-keeping. There was no charge against him. If a hair of his head could be touched it would dishonor and reproach the law. The slayer also became a fellow citizen in the city.

The Christian finds in Christ a place of absolute and instantaneous security. There is no charge against him from the moment he places saving faith in Him (Rom. 8:1, 33-34). He is also made a fellow citizen with the saints (Eph. 2:19).

THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE PLACES OF PEACE

No weapons of warfare were allowed within the cities, as they were numbered among the Levitical cities, ihe Levites were set apart for the services of the tabernacle and the temple. Also, it was their duty to instruct the people, and to read the book of the law. There is no record of their participation in warfare. Their cities were altogether peaceful.

The cities of refuge as places of peace were types of Christ Who is our peace (Eph. 2:14).

THE SLAYER WAS RELEASED AT THE DEATH OF THE HIGH PRIEST

At the death of the high priest the slayer might go free and dwell in his own land in peace. He was a prisoner of hope. He might leave the city of refuge at any time, but at his own risk. At the death of the high priest he was free to go (Num. 35:28).

Our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, died on the Cross for us that we might go free; but He not only died, He lives forever, and we are in Him' (Heb. 8:1; Col. 2:10).

THE CITIES OF REFUGE WERE THE ONLY SAFETY FROM THE AVENGER

In order to rid the law of blood-revenge of the abuse which had grown up around it, it became necessary to provide a convenient asylum for the man-slayer, where he could be safe from the avenger of blood until he could be given a fair trial. It was for this purpose that God appointed the cities of refuge (Josh. 20:3). They were the only safety the slayer had (Num. 35:26-28).

The city of refuge was a picture forecast of Christ as the strong tower into which the sinner may run for shelter from the condemnation of the law. He is the sinner's only safety (Acts 4:12). None can condemn those who have found shelter in Him (Rom. 8:34). He deais with all that pursues the soul..

THE NAMES OF THE CITIES OF REFUGE SET FORTH THE GLORIOUS EXCELLENCIES OF THE SINNER'S REFUGE

Each one of the six cities of refuge represent some point of the character and work of Christ. Their meaning is as follows:

Kedesh — sanctuary; Christ our sanctuary

Shechem — strength; Christ our strength

Hebron — company, friend; Christ our friend

Bezer — fortress; Christ our fortress

Ramoth — exalted; Christ our exaltation

Golan — joy; Christ our joy

Summing up the typical teaching of the cities of refuge, we can draw only one conclusion — CHRIST IS THE ONLY AND ALL-SUFFICIENT SAVIOUR. He is our sanctuary Whom God has set apart for our worship; He is the strength of our life; He is our unfailing Friend; He is our strong fortress; He is our strong fortress; He is our standing, and He is our joy. All that we need for time and eternity is found in Him.

The cities of refuge embody in themselves truths of the highest importance concerning the salvation of God and His provision of grace and security for us. They illustrate in many ways the mission, person and work of the Redeemer. They point to Christ in His office work of Great High Priest. They are an object lesson on the meaning of sin, of the punishment which it deserves, of the only means of escape from it, and they furnished a marvelous resemblance of the way of salvation in Christ our only refuge. An unknown author has written the following lines:

"Six refuge cities — all in One!
     For Christ is all in all!
And they who are in Him are where
     No evil can befall..
But out of Him no refuge is —
     No other name 'neath heaven,
To be the sinner's hiding place,
     Hath God to mortals given."