"Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can flee for safety... (Numbers 35:6 NLT)
We've lost a concept in recent years. It's the concept of a safe place.
I remember when I was growing up, there were houses in the neighborhood designated as "safe place" for someone who was trying to escape evil in their lives. There was a sign in the window to let people know.
As a child, I was taught that people in uniforms such as policemen and firemen were safe places as well. I could always turn to one of these people if I was lost or in danger. They would help.
Prior to that, churches and their ministers were always considered safe places. You could go to a church building with the high ceilings and stained glass windows to find a safe place. Someone wearing a collar identifying himself as a minister would be considered a safe person.
Safe people are needed to ensure justice, not vengeance, is served. A person who is in danger of being hurt needs a safe place to go when they are innocent. They need their fair day in court. They need a safe place.
A few years ago, our small Bible study group did a study on a book entitled "Safe People." In it, we learned attributes of people who are "safe" to build friendships with and attributes of people who's friendship can be toxic and dangerous. Perhaps the greatest learning I gained from the study was this: we need to become safe people ourselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment