MONDAY MUSINGS

July 21, 2008

City of Refuge

Yesterday our quartet, The Expressions, provided the special music for both of our worship services.  We sang an interesting song, “Run to the City of Refuge,” first made popular by Chad Mitchell and then by the Happiness Emporium Barbershop quartet. 

In the book of Joshua, chapter 20 we find this passage:  Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, “Say to the Israelites, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person without intent or by mistake may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.  The slayer shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and explain the case to the elders of that city; then the fugitive shall be taken into the city, and given a place, and shall remain with them.  And if the avenger of blood is in pursuit, they shall not give up the slayer, because the neighbor was killed by mistake, there having been no enmity between them before.  The slayer shall remain in that city until there is a trial before the congregation, until the death of the one who is high priest at the time:  then the slayer may return home, to the town in which the deed was done.’”

This was a remarkable development in judicial due process and mercy, far different from the prevailing practice of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  Even the most heinous crime, murder, could be responded to with a gracious effort to interrupt the serial taking of life for the taking of life.  The six sanctuary cities so designated were Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan.

The song in five verses talks about the tangled web of human actions, each verse pointing to the need for forgiveness, grace and reconciliation.  The message is that we all at one time or another need the safety and sanctuary of a city of refuge, a place to reflect on our actions and seek God’s mercy.  We trust God to give us a fair hearing and to offer forgiveness, offering us a new chance to live a life of mercy and forgiveness for others.

It is easy to abuse mercy, to take advantage of forgiveness and to repeat behaviors that cause hurt and harm.  Repentance is usually hard work for us, admitting our wrongs and seeking a new start.  The concept of a city of refuge is comforting, for it points to a gracious and receptive God, one who looks down the road to welcome home the wayward.  That is a compelling image of God for me.  Peace.  John Krueger