Daily Manna 19 March
MEMORY VERSE: “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: 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.” – (Deuteronomy 19:11,12)
READ: Deuteronomy 19:11-21 (KJV)
11. 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;
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
15. One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth; at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
16. If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
17. Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
18. And the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
19. Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother; so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20. And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
21. And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
In the introductory verses in this chapter (verses 2-7), God had commanded the Israelites to create six cities of refuge. The purpose of this was to secure a hiding place for the slayer who did not commit the crime intentionally or maliciously. Once the assailant had run into any of the cities of refuge, the avengers of blood could not go in to force him out for judgment.
In today’s text, it is stated that if any man hates his neighbour and lies in wait for him, and smites him mortally and flees into one of these cities, the law of the cities of refuge would not apply since the crime was committed intentionally or maliciously. So the assailant would have to be brought out to be judged by the elders of his own city.
In addition, all Israelites were expected to be just, truthful, sincere and honest in their dealings with their neighbours. They should not covet their neighbour’s property or bear false witness. All these could engender hatred, anger and even malicious murder. Everyone should be content with his own lot.
In the present dispensation, Christ is the Refuge for those who put their faith in Him. He is the believers’ shield and security. In Him, refuge is provided for those who by faith flee unto Him. However, there is no refuge or protection in Jesus for wilful or presumptuous sinners who still deliberately continue in their sin despite persistent warning from the Spirit of God (Hebrews 10:26). Any sinner who repents and flees to Christ shall be saved but those who think they can take shelter in Him and still continue to sin wilfully will be judged. Saints are also expected to be satisfied with what they have and shun every form of falsehood, tale bearing, covetousness, libel or slander.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There is no eternal security for a sinning churchgoer.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 33-34
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Danger of Willful Sinning – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 19 March 2021
