In The Gate?
Pastor Timothy Hinkle
September 15, 2013
Numbers 35:9-11
9 And
the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto
the children of Israel, and say
unto them, When ye be come
over Jordan into the land of
Canaan; 11 Then ye shall
appoint you cities to be cities
of refuge for you; that the
slayer may flee thither, which
killeth any person at unawares.
Numbers 35:9-11
12 And
they shall be unto you
cities for refuge from the
avenger; that the manslayer
die not, until he stand before
the congregation in
13
judgment. And of these
cities which ye shall give six
cities shall ye have for
refuge.
14 Ye
Numbers 35:9-11
shall give three cities on
this side Jordan, and three
cities shall ye give in the land
of Canaan, which shall be
cities of refuge. 15 These six
cities shall be a refuge, both
for the children of Israel, and
for the stranger, and for the
sojourner among them:
Numbers 35:9-11
16 And
if he smite him with an
instrument of iron, so that he die,
he is a murderer: the murderer
shall surely be put to death.
7 And
Joshua 20:7-8
they appointed Kedesh in
Galilee in mount Naphtali, and
Shechem in mount Ephraim, and
Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the
mountain of Judah. 8 And on the
other side Jordan by Jericho
eastward, they assigned Bezer in the
wilderness upon the plain out of the
tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in
Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and
Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of
Manasseh.
Gideon's Tomb Outside
Shechem
Overlooking Shechem
Driving Through
Shechem
Hebron Today
Soldiers in Hebron
Outside Tomb of the
Patriarchs/Matriarchs
Inside Tomb of
Patriarchs/Matriarchs
Inside Tomb of the
Patriarchs/Matriarchs
Rachael and Leah’s Tombs
2 Samuel 3:27-28
27 And
when Abner was returned
to Hebron, Joab took him aside in
the gate to speak with him quietly,
and smote him there under the
fifth rib, that he died, for the blood
of Asahel his brother. 28 And
afterward when David heard it,
he said, I and my kingdom are
guiltless before the LORD for ever
from the blood of Abner the son
of Ner:
2 Samuel 3:33-34
33 And
the king lamented
over Abner, and said, Died
Abner as a fool dieth? 34 Thy
hands were not bound, nor
thy feet put into fetters: as a
man falleth before wicked
men, so fellest thou. And all
the people wept again over
him.
Abner a Fool? Why?
• We see here that the King
says that Abner’s hands and
feet were not bound, and
that,
“Joab took him aside in the
gate to speak with him quietly”
• From these comments we
can conclude that Abner
willingly went with his slayer
into the gate of the city.
Cities Represent Christ
• They Were Available To All - God
provided 6 cities of refuge. There
were three east of the Jordan and
three west of the Jordan. They
were placed so that there was not
tribe that was too far from a city of
refuge. They were available to
everyone no matter where they
were or who they were! Whether
the manslayer was a son or a
stranger, there was a city of refuge
open for him.
Cities Represent Christ
• They Were Accessible To All Just as these cities were
spaced all over the country
and were available to every
Israelite, they were also
accessible to every person.
Cities Represent Christ
• They Were Prominent - Most of
these cities were built on top of
mountains. Most of the cities of
ancient Israel were built of
white limestone. When the sun
hit these cities they gleamed.
Even in the night, under the
light of the moon, they would
be visible. They were easily
seen, even from many miles
away.
Cities Represent Christ
• They Were Prepared - There
were certain preparations that
were made in and around
these cities that guaranteed
the manslayer that he would
find safety when he arrived at
the city of refuge.
Cities Represent Christ
• The Roads Were Never
Clogged - The priests would
made sure that the roads
leading to these cities were
clear from obstructions and
always open to the traveler.
Cities Represent Christ
• The Gates Were Never
Closed - No matter what the
time of day or night, the
gates on the city of refuge
were never closed.
Cities Represent Christ
• The Direction Was Never
Confused - There were sign posts
with the Hebrew word "Miklat"
written on them that had been
set up to point the way to the
city of refuge. That word means
"Refuge" There was no need for
anyone to misunderstand the
way to get there.
Cities Represent Christ
• Like a city set on top of a hill,
Jesus can be seen by the weary
traveler.
• The road leading to Jesus is
always clear. On His side, there
are no obstructions. When He
died on the cross, He died for all
sin, so sin is not a problem that
can keep you from coming.
Cities Represent Christ
• Jesus is always available! Jesus
Christ is never closed. He will
receive anyone who will come to
Him at any time! He is waiting for
you to show up!
“IN” Christ Jesus
Romans 8:1 There is therefore
now no condemnation to
them which are in Christ
Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit.
• Are you “IN CHIRST” or are
you “IN THE GATE” ?
IN THE GATE
• Being “IN THE GATE” is the same
as being “LUKEWARM”
Revelation 3:16 So then because
thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spue thee out
of my mouth.
Be Found In Christ
John 3:16-17 For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into
the world to condemn the
world; but that the world
through him might be saved.
Draw Nigh To God
7 Submit
yourselves therefore to
God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and
he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse
your hands, ye sinners; and purify
your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be
afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let
your laughter be turned to
mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of
the Lord, and he shall lift you up.