Tokonaki Me 13, 2023
גאל הדם Redeemer
of Blood
HUHU‘I ‘O E LINGI TOTO
NUMBERS 35:10-12
"WHEN YOU CROSS THE JORDAN INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN. THEN YOU SHALL SELECT CITIES TO BE CITIES OF REFUGE FOR YOU, THAT THE MANSLAYER WHO KILLS ANY PERSON WITHOUT INTENT MAY FLEE THERE. THE CITIES SHALL BE FOR YOU A REFUGE FROM THE AVENGER, THAT THE MANSLAYER MAY NOT DIE UNTIL HE STANDS BEFORE THE CONGREGATION FOR JUDGMENT."
NOMIPA 35:10-12
10 Lea ki ha‘a ‘Isileli, ‘o tala kiate kinautolu, Ka mou ka laka atu ‘i Soatani ki he fonua ko Kēnani, 11 pea te mou vahe‘i hamou ngaahi kolo mo kolo-hūfanga, ke hola ki ai ‘a e fakapō kuo ne te‘ia ha taha ‘i he fāinoa. 12 Pea ko e ngaahi kolo ko ia ko homou hūfanga mei he koeli, ke ‘oua na‘a mate ‘a e fakapō kae‘oua ke ne tu‘u ‘i he ‘ao ‘o e fakataha ke fakamaau.
Not every biblical redeemer (go'el) was the same; some were out for blood. The go'el hadam ("avenger of blood," 35:19) would avenge the killing of a family member, even if it was an accidental death. To protect the slayer long enough for his guilt or innocence to be determined, God established "cities of refuge" to which the slayer could hightail it before the go’el hadam caught up with him. If found guilty, he would be executed. But if innocent, to remain safe, he resided in the city of refuge "until the death of the high priest" (Num. 35:25). In this way, rather than the relative exacting his vengeful redemption, the death of God's anointed priest paid the price, as it were, for his merciful redemption.
If the death of a high priest, who was a sinner, nevertheless liberated another sinner stuck in a city of refuge, then how much more does the death and resurrection of Christ, our perfect high priest, liberate us that we might walk in newness of life?
Blessed are you, Jesus Christ,
our merciful high priest, for paying the price for our redemption.
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