1 Chronicles 6:66-70: a reflection

66Some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim. 67They gave to them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its pasture lands and Gezer with its pasture lands, 68Jokmeam with its pasture lands, Beth Horon with its pasture lands, 69Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands; 70and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its pasture lands, and Bileam with its pasture lands, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.

In the distribution of the Levites' cities, some are named as cities of refuge, places the one who had unintentionally killed another could flee to for safety. And notice that these cities of refuge were spread throughout the land, among the various tribes, so that no matter where in the land a person was, a place of refuge was within reach. God did not provide only one distant refuge, hard to reach; he provided refuge throughout the land, always near, always within reach of the one who needed it.

Notice the accessibility of the refuge God provided. The cities of refuge were not gathered in one remote place, far from most; they were distributed throughout the land, so that a place of refuge was always near, within reach from wherever one was. God's provision of refuge was accessible, near at hand, so that the one who needed to flee for safety could always find a refuge within reach. The refuge was not far off and hard to reach, but near and accessible, wherever one was in the land.

That accessibility of refuge points to a comfort about the refuge God provides for us. God's refuge is not far off, hard to reach, available only in some distant place; it is near, always within reach, accessible from wherever we are. When we need refuge from the troubles that pursue us, from the guilt and judgment we fear, God is a refuge near at hand, not far off; we do not have to travel a long, hard road to reach him, for he is near, within reach, wherever we are. Do not imagine that God, your refuge, is far off and hard to reach; he is near, always within reach, as the cities of refuge were spread throughout the land so that refuge was always accessible. Flee to God your refuge, who is near at hand wherever you are, not far off; for the God who provided refuge accessible throughout the land is himself a refuge always near, within reach whenever you need to flee to him.

Lord, in the distribution of the Levites' cities, some are named as cities of refuge, places the one who had unintentionally killed another could flee to for safety. And notice that these cities of refuge were spread throughout the land, so that no matter where in the land a person was, a place of refuge was within reach. You did not provide only one distant refuge, hard to reach; you provided refuge throughout the land, always near, always within reach. Show me the accessibility of the refuge you provided. The cities of refuge were not gathered in one remote place; they were distributed throughout the land, so that a place of refuge was always near. Your provision of refuge was accessible, near at hand. The refuge was not far off and hard to reach, but near and accessible, wherever one was. Let that accessibility point me to a comfort about the refuge you provide for me. Your refuge is not far off, hard to reach; it is near, always within reach, accessible from wherever I am. When I need refuge from the troubles that pursue me, from the guilt and judgment I fear, you are a refuge near at hand; I do not have to travel a long, hard road to reach you. Keep me from imagining that you, my refuge, are far off and hard to reach; you are near, always within reach. Help me flee to you my refuge, Lord, who is near at hand wherever I am, not far off.