Deuteronomy Worksheet - Chapter 19

Review & Intro:  In Chapter 18, Moses reminded the Israelites how they were to take care of the Levites who lived in their towns, and how the first fruits would be given to them, etc. because they were in fulltime service to the Lord, and made their living from the people's offerings.  We also saw the warnings of God through Moses to the people of not participating in witchcraft, sorcery, and other type things of this nature.  God would send them a prophet like Moses and they were to listen to Him.  We saw this was Jesus the Christ, the Messiah.  Amen.  In Chapter 19, Moses will remind the Israelites of the six cities of refuge that are to be created for the manslayer to find safety from the blood avenger if he had killed someone accidentally rather than with malice and hate. 

Deuteronomy Chapter 19 - Observation Questions

1.  The Lord would cut off nations for Israel to possess and settle in.  They would already be cities full of houses (vs.1) ... When that time arrived, they were to "set aside" 3 of the cities to be in the midst of the land. (vs.2)  .... They were to prepare the roads and divide into 3 parts the territory of the land.  What was the purpose of all of this? vs. 3

Note:  At this point in their history, the Israelites had already established three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River: Golan, Ramoth, and Bezer (Deut. 4:41-43). Now, when they enter the land, they are to designate three more cities of refuge inside the borders of Israel, to the west of the Jordan, for a total of six.  They will be the cities of:  Hebron, Shechem, and Kedesh

2.  Who could flee to a city of refuge for protection? vs. 4
3.  What example is given of how a person might accidentally kill a friend? vs. 5
4.  Who will be after the manslayer to kill him in his anger before hearing a trial of his innocence? vs. 6
5.  This was the purpose of the cities of refuge; to protect the manslayer until his case could be heard. (vs. 7-9) ... What kind of blood would bring bloodguiltiness upon them and the land that was given them? vs. 10
6.  How should this make us feel over the babies that are aborted everyday in our land?  Give your heartfelt answer.
7.  What were the 2 things the Lord asked them to do in order to continue to live on the land of promise? vs. 9
8.  If a truly guilty man who hated his neighbor and had waited for the opportunity to kill him tried to flee to one of these cities, the elders of the city would hear the case and rule him guilty.  What would happen then? vs. 12

Note:  Who was the blood avenger?  The right of vengeance was given to the nearest kinsman of someone who was murdered.  Because a person could act out of anger to kill before they knew the facts of the case, the cities of refuge were set up. 

9.  When the guilty person was turned over to the avenger of blood, why were they not to pity him? vs. 13
10.  Do you pity criminals who have killed others when they are given the death penalty?  Why should we pray for them to be saved, and yet believe they should pay for the innocent blood they have shed?
11.  What were they not to move and why? vs. 14
12.  Was a single witness ever to be enough to convict someone of a sin? vs. 15
13.  How many witnesses were required before a report of a sin was to be believed? vs. 15
14.  If a malicious witness rose up against a man to accuse him of wrongdoing, but was found out through investigation to have been lying, what punishment would he receive? vs.16-19
15.  What would this cause the other people to do? vs. 20
16.  They were not to show pity when the act was returned upon him.  Fill in the blanks for the law ... "life for ____, eye for ____, tooth for _____, hand for _____, foot for _____." vs. 21
17.  How did Jesus change this law under the New Covenant of Grace?  Comment on this verse:

• Matthew 5:38-42

Application:

18.  The cities of refuge are easily seen as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.  (see Luke 24:27 and Colossians 2:17) ..... It is easy to see that we could be the manslayer needing a city of refuge to flee to.  What are we guilty of and what should happen to us? Romans 6:23 -
19.  Who would the blood avenger in our life be? 1 Peter 5:8 -
20.  We can run to Jesus for refuge.  What is His promise to us?

• John 15:4
• Hebrews 4:15,16

21.  Below I have listed the names of the cities of refuge and their "meaning".  I have place a verse by it.  Please comment on how the verse shows Jesus being of the same characteristic as the meaning given for that city of refuge.

• Kedesh - "Holy Place" - Hebrews 10:19 -
• Shechem - "Shoulder" - Isaiah 9:6 -
• Hebron - "Fellowship" - 1 Corinthians 1:9 -
• Bezer - "Fortress" - Psalm 18:2 -
• Ramoth - "Exaltation" - Acts 5:31 -
• Golan - "Rejoicing" - Psalm 5:11 -

Note:  We have found our resting place in the Lord Jesus Christ.  He has paid for our sins and He gives us a place of refuge from the world chasing us and the devil pursuing us.  Take refuge in Him today for all that You need.  Amen.

23.  Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.