the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 1 of 5
Deuteronomy 19:1-14
"A just God and a Saviour: there is none beside me," the LORD proclaims (Isaiah 45:21). Just, He condemns the criminal (vv. 11, 13). Saviour, He shelters the accidental murderer. Three major cities were to be appointed to serve as places of refuge, a type of the shelter which we find in Christ against the righteous anger of God. What is required to benefit from it? Simply faith in that unique way prepared by God for the salvation of the sinner, who is guilty, along with all the human race, of having shed the innocent blood of His well-beloved Son (vv. 10-13). Paul seems to have in mind this image of the city of refuge when he speaks of running to win Christ and to be found in Him, not having his righteousness but that which is by faith in Christ (Philippians 3:8-9; read also Hebrews 6:18).
Violence is not the only way of hurting your neighbour; you can "remove thy neighbour’s landmark" (v. 14), i.e. push them aside to carve out a better position in the world for yourself at their expense. The Christian is taught to be content with what he has got now (Hebrews 13:5), to be sober (1 Peter 5:8) and at the same time not to insist on his rights, so that his moderation might be known to all men (Luke 6:29-31; Philippians 4:5).
