JULY 25TH, 2004
DEUTERONOMY 19
I. After the possession is possessed, innocent life is to be protected. (1-13)
A. Three cities were to be separated as cities of refuge. (2)
1. The land was to be divided into three districts. (3)
2. One city of refuge was to exist in each district.
3. The roads to these cities were to be prepared for easy access.
B. What was the purpose for these refuge cities?
1. In case of an accidental death, with no malice or fore-thought, the person who killed someone by accident could run to the refuge cities and find protection (4-5).
2. This was protection against family members who would seek revenge. (6)
C. What if the land expanded beyond these three districts?
1. Three more cities were to be designated in the new territories. (9)
2. It is understood that the commandments of God would apply to any new
territory reached in the future. (8-9)
D. Who was prohibited from finding refuge in the Cities of Refuge?
1. The premeditated murderer, who killed willingly, was forbidden to find refuge in the Cities of Refuge. (11-12)
2. If a murderer sought refuge in the cities, the elders of the city were to put him to death. (12-13)
E. And so, God established a means of protecting innocent human life, but also re-enforced His establishment of capital punishment.
II. Ancient landmarks were not to be removed from generation to generation. (14)
A. The property lines were established according to landmarks that would define the property for up-coming generations.
B. The people were forbidden to remove the landmarks because they represented both the past and the future, (see Proverbs 22:28).
1. There are landmarks in our lives that we need to leave alone: The Bible, church, traditional family, and moral absolutes.
2. Modern religion and philosophy wants to set up NEW landmarks according to immoral guidelines.
III. The sin of perjury (lying in the name of the Law).
A. In order for a man to be guilty of a crime or sin, there must be at least two, (and preferably three), witnesses. (15)
B. A false witness is lying to three institutions: God, the priest, and the judge. (17)
1. The lies of the false witness are to be verified by “diligent inquisition.”
2. Once the false witness is found guilty of lying, he is to be punished according to the crime for which he had perjured himself, (19).
3. This is to be done publicly, as an example to everyone else. (20)
C. Equal justice under God’s Law was “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand in hand, foot for foot.” (21)
Conclusion: Please read Deuteronomy 20 for next Sunday