God's Great Works

Read Joshua 20


In this chapter we see Joshua set up cities of refuge in accordance with the command God had given to Moses. With these cities of refuge, God shows himself to be a God of justice and mercy. When there was an accidental death, the family of the deceased would obviously grieve and want some sort of restitution. But if the death was truly accidental, should the "offending" party be forfeited his or her life? That wouldn't really be fair. So God set up a refuge for the accused to dwell. The person would flee there, be examined by the assembly, and if indeed are found to be innocent, they would dwell safely there for a time.


We have a refuge as well. We don't flee to a city, but to our Savior. In him we find our refuge and strength and help in times of trouble. Jesus has paid the price for our sin (we were not truly innocent!) with his own death, and he is raised to life again, that we might hide ourselves in him and have peace. Thanks be to God!


Read Psalm 111

"The 111th psalm is a psalm of thanks for the people of Israel to sing at the Passover, concerning the Passover Lamb. In this psalm they learn to praise God and give thanks in a fine, short song for all His wonderful works, especially for the spiritual authority, priesthood, Passover, Law, Word, freedom, justice, the land, help and other blessings." (Reading the Psalms with Luther, CPH).

Tying together the saving work of our refuge, Jesus Christ, and the psalm that praises God for his "great works," is an ancient Latin hymn from the forth century. Some stanzas of the great hymn complete our meditation today and serve as our prayer:

Holy God, we praise Thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee.
All on earth Thy scepter claim,
All in heav’n above adore Thee.
Infinite Thy vast domain,
Everlasting is Thy reign.

Thou art King of Glory, Christ;
Son of God, yet born of Mary.
For us sinners sacrificed,
As to death a Tributary,
First to break the bars of death,
Thou hast opened heav’n to faith.

From Thy high celestial home,
Judge of all, again returning,
We believe that Thou shalt come
On that final judgment morning,
When Thy voice shall shake the earth
And the startled dead come forth.

Spare Thy people, Lord, we pray,
By a thousand snares surrounded;
Keep us without sin today,
Never let us be confounded.
Lo, I put my trust in Thee;
Never, Lord, abandon me.

(LSB 940:1, 4, 6-7, Public Domain)

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!