Cities of Light

June 29, 2014
Joshua:  Turning Obedience Into Blessing
Joshua 21:  Cities of Light                          NOT EDITED

SIS –  Christians are called to be “light” in a dark world.

Did God have a plan for His nation, Israel?  Does God have a plan for our nation, America?  The latter question, which seems to bear upon us with more immediacy, was asked and answered in a book titled, “The Light and the Glory.”  This book provides theological and historical insight into what was right with our nation, and where we seem to have gone astray as we have aged.  “Light” and “Glory.”  These two elements fit together like and glove for a nation.  God says this of His chosen people Israel (Isaiah 49:6),

I will also make you a light for the nations,

to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Joshua 21 describes how God built into the foundation of Israel the very means by which Israel could fulfill that mission of “lightbearing.”  Last week we looked at how God built a foundation of justice into Israel with the Cities of Refuge.  This week we follow up with the instilling of God’s message of hope and holiness with the Cities of Light.

The principles established in Joshua 21 for the nation of Israel hold true for any nation that will declare themselves, “One Nation Under God,” and seek to live out that devotion with passion for God and submission to His Word, the Bible.

Peter J. Marshall, the son of the beloved Chaplain of the Senate, Peter Marshall, writes, “America, America—until [a few] years ago, the name by itself would evoke a feeling of warmth.  Whether it was pride or gratitude or hope, the response of the majority of people on earth was deeply positive.”  He goes on to lament, “And then, with suddenness that is still bewildering, everything went out of balance.” 

“Everything went out of balance.”  That’s a mild, polite way of putting it!  He wrote these words nearly 37 years ago.  How much more severe has been America’s detour since then.  The decaying of the American dream is evident on streets throughout America—both physically and spiritually.

This same “loss of light” and plummeting decay that we witness nationally can be seen in Christian churches as well.  Churches that thrived 30 plus years ago and pulsated with a dream of reaching their communities with the light of the gospel have become but dim shadows of their former glory.  WE’VE LOST THE LIGHT!

God intends for His people nationally and spiritually to be a light to outsiders—that is, those outside the fold of His divine grace and mercy.  Can we get the “light” back in our nation and churches?  I think so.  God has given us a “Light Bearing Strategy” in His institution of Cities of Light, or Levitical cities in Israel.  With the “light” will come the “glory” of God upon those bearing the light, as Peter Marshall observed.  Let’s read about “Cities of Light.”

READ Joshua 1-8 

The first lesson in regard to “Cities of Light” is

1.  The Light’s INITIATION 1-8

Notice again verse 2:  “The Lord commanded through Moses that we be given cities to live in, with their pasturelands for our livestock.”

As we noted in regard to God’s justice and the Cities of Refuge, the Cities of Light, or Levitical cities, were God’s idea.  This issue of God initiating all matters of grace shows up from the very first verse of the Bible to the very last verse.  Genesis 1:1 reminds us: “In beginning, God.”

The story of grace and the provisions of grace begin and end with God.  In fact, the last chapter of the last book, the Book of Revelation describes God as not only the First, but the Last in matters of grace and redemption:

^22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,  the First and the Last,  the Beginning and the End.  (Alpha being the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega being the last).

God initiated the relationship between Himself and the nation of Israel, they are His “chosen” people.  Jesus reinforces this issue of initiation when He states to the disciples (John 15:16),

You did not choose Me, but I chose you.  I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit.

So, what are we to make of this idea of “God’s initiation” of the Cities of Light?  Well, if God initiated something it would by definition be “good,” and therefore something that can only be ignored allowed to lapse at great consequence to ourselves.  God initiated Cities of Light because God wanted His people to remain in His Light and to reflect His light.  When we reflect His light, we receive His glory.  When we allow His light to go out—whether individually, in our families, in our churches, or in our nation—then disaster and decay comes upon us as the darkness of evil floods in to fill the void.  Even the smallest amount of light holds darkness at bay but without some light, darkness becomes the default position.

God initiated the Cities of Light as a pattern for His people to follow. Where God initiates a command, He likewise makes provision for that plan to be accomplished. Therefore we see another lesson unfold:

2.  The Light’s Provision (2-3)

Knowing the heart of God and what God has set down as the pattern for our lives, such as Cities of Light, allow us to make a bold claim upon God’s promises.  The Levites did not come before Eleazar the priest and Joshua the commander based upon their own merit or qualifications.  They came with the authority of God’s own promise.

“the Lord commanded!” (v2)

When we know the Word of God we can pray according to the will of God which gives us the authority of God and opens up the entire treasure house of God’s provisions.  This is not “presumptuous or prideful” praying, but praying with the authority that comes from understanding God’s purposes and plans for life.  Our boldness in seeking God’s provision for our lives comes from knowing God’s commands and applying them obediently to our lives.  Obedience always brings blessing because we can pray for and receive God’s provisions as He Himself has promised them to us.  But, be careful of a presumptuous “name-it-and-claim” it kind of praying or faith that seeks to manipulate God rather than a humble boldness that seeks to glorify God through obedience.

Another way of stating this matter is this:  “where God guides, God provides.”  Aligning ourselves with God’s purposes and patterns will always mean that we have “enough” to accomplish everything He asks us to accomplish.  Paul thus rested on this principle and spoke thusly:

I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST (Phil. 4:13).

The Cities of Light, or Levitical cities, established God’s pattern for Israel and paved the way for His provisions to flow in and through their lives, as long as they devoted themselves to being bearers of His light and truth.

There were 48 cities scattered all throughout the land of Israel to assure the mission light of God’s redemptive story would always burn brightly.  A major issue in maintaining the light of truth in Israel was keeping the flame of worship burning through the ministry of the Levitical priests.  The Levitical priests provided the leadership in the spiritual life of Israel.  God made special provision for them among Israelites.  The provision for the Levites, who received no ownership of land in Israel, was to be taken care of by the people of Israel in gratitude TO GOD for their service.  Look at verse 2 and 3 again:

² At Shiloh, in the land of Canaan, they told them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that we be given cities to live in, with their pasturelands for our livestock.”  ³ So the Israelites, by the Lord’s command, gave the Levites these cities with their pasturelands from their inheritance.

Those serving in the worship leadership of Israel had the same material needs as every other Israelite.  If ever a carnal church member had an opinion about anything it would likely be the “monetary support” of the shepherd.  They may dwell in a nice house and drive a nice car and have a nice employer subsidized retirement and think nothing of it—but, for the pastor to have those same things, well . . . for the most part people in the pew “think nothing of it.”

A Christian teacher points to the focus of this passage by saying, “Church folk believe that man does not live by bread alone.  So, we gladly allow the minister and his family to feed on the Scriptures but not on sandwiches and spaghetti or – certainly not – steak!”

Cities of Light establish the foundation for God’s provisions for the people of God.  God cares for the needs of His people through the leadership of His “set aside” servants and intends for the people to care for the needs of His “set aside” servants.  A church would do well to establish a pattern of provision for their shepherds that shows gratitude for the spiritual provisions they receive through the life of their shepherds.  If the light of the leaders grows dim through impoverishment and unnecessary hardship, the light will not burn brightly among the people.

Knowing God’s pattern gave the Levites the boldness and authority to seek from God the provisions God had promised.

3.  The Light’s Purpose (20:9)

The Levites were “living parables” of how all of God’s followers should live on this earth—as pilgrims and sojourners.  The gospel song

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Look back to chapter 20, verse 9 for a moment:  ⁹ These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them,

Literally, this verse speaks of “sojourners (foreigners) sojourning among them.”  Israel was established with a social ethic that expresses the “wideness of God’s mercy.”  God never intended for Israel to keep the Light of God to themselves.  God never intended for Israel to fall in love with the land, but to fall in love with Him and those people of His elect that had not yet been gathered into the fold.

A church begins to die and the “light” begins to dim the moment the focus becomes one of “camping in God’s provisions” instead of “pioneering in God’s purpose.”  The Cities of Light were not like “campfires around which the Israelites could roast hotdogs and sing Kum ba yah.”  No, they were battle torches that would light the way of the Israelites as they pressed deeper and deeper into the darkness.

The Cities of Light scattered generously (48 of them) across the landscape of the promised land to assure there would always be light for Israel—and more importantly, light FROM Israel.   The purpose of light is to give clear vision and prevent people from stumbling into the awful darkness of sin.  Throughout the Bible, especially the N.T. the metaphor of light being good and darkness being evil shows up everywhere.  Light conquering darkness is a common Biblical theme.

Jesus spoke of light (along with salt) as being indicative of the very mission of a true follower (Mt. 5:16):

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine  before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Light represents goodness and life as opposed to darkness which represents evil and death.  Without Cities of Light, Israel would slip (and did slip) into darkness and evil.  Without Cities of Light, that is God’s churches, scattered throughout our nations metropolitan expanses, our nation will fall into darkness, disrepair, and death—as it has already fallen.

The purpose of Light is to illuminate the path to God Who is the source of all goodness and life. 

4.  The Light’s PENETRATION (9-42)

I want to take just a quick moment to point out the “penetration” of the Cities of Light.  Verses 41 and 42 give tell us the degree to which the Cities of Light penetrated and saturated the communities of God.

⁴¹ Within the Israelite possession there were 48 cities in all with their pasturelands for the Levites.  ⁴² Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands; this was true for all the cities.

There were 48 of these Cities of Light scattered throughout the entire land to make sure that no place was left without the witness of God through the ministry of His priests.  All up and down the length of Israel and across her breadth was the Light of God through the ministry of His leaders.  No place was left without a witness.

This is instructive for the church today, whom Peter calls, “a royal priesthood.”  We must be scattered throughout our communities penetrating the darkness of our world as we reflect the Light of Jesus Christ shining on our lives.

The penetration of God’s Cities of Light was both extensive and effective.  The Cities of Light were situated to where everyone had access to the truth of God and examples from His leaders of how to apply that truth.  This goes along with the purpose of the light.  Light’s purpose is to penetrate darkness.

As we continue to examine these Cities of Light, we notice that chapter 21 ends with a summary (as several chapters in Joshua do) that highlights why God’s people should be full of praise for Almighty God, Yahweh, the God of the Covenant.  It serves as a postscript that elucidates the awesome goodness of God and the indestructibility of His plan.

4. The Lights Postscript 43-45

Often, after we have written a letter we realize we left off something very important so we add a P.S., or postscript, to the end.  Verses 43-45 serve as a P.S. on the end of chapter 21.

⁴³ So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. ⁴⁴ The Lord gave them rest on every side according to all He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies were able to stand against them, for the Lord handed over all their enemies to them. ⁴⁵ None of the good promises the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed. Everything was fulfilled.

Tucked away here in this chapter is a nugget that summarizes how wonderfully powerful God’s truth, or light, really is.  Nothing can overcome the Light of the World.  At the smallest flicker of faith, darkness must flee.  God leaves nothing to chance and there is no chance that God’s Light will ever fade from this earth.

Verses 43-45 summarize in exhilarating fashion the glory of God’s plan, especially as we have seen it unfold through Joshua.  We’ve seen and discussed the power of God and His sovereignty before.  God’s plan cannot fail.  When we follow His plan, we cannot fail.  When we scatter “Cities of Light” across the landscape of our land, we will see revival.  Obedience ALWAYS brings blessing—ALWAYS!

Look at how verses 43-45 summarize the plan of God as it worked out in the lives of the Israelites.  Verse 43 speaks of the present situation aptly summarizing chapters 13-21:

⁴³ So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled there.

Verse 44 reminds us of the struggles it took to get to where they are which summarize the victories of chapters 1-12:

⁴⁴ The Lord gave them rest on every side according to all He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies were able to stand against them, for the Lord handed over all their enemies to them.

Verse 45 not only summarizes the entire theme of Joshua, but indeed the entire theme of the Bible:

⁴⁵ None of the good promises the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed. Everything was fulfilled.

The Book of Joshua, like all the O.T., is a metaphor for what it means to be a fully devoted follower of God through Jesus Christ.  Presently, we occupy the land that God promised He would give us.  God says that He will provide for our needs, and He is doing it.  Our present occupation of the land and the experience of God’s grace, however—and this is a BIG however—is not without struggle and conflict.  Sine is everywhere and we must “fight the good fight.”  Finally, the most important aspect of faith in Jesus Christ:  “Everything has been and will be fulfilled.  Not one of God’s promises has, or ever will fail.”

The next three chapters of Joshua will teach us how to “retain the blessings that God has given us and continue to live in a state of blessing through obedience.”  But here in this summary verse of chapter 21, verse 45, we have the faith-sustaining promise from God Himself that His plan will succeed in our lives and in our world—regardless of how hard the struggle might be at present.

Bible history is not about the past—it is about the future.  The O.T. is not so much what happened with Israel as it is what God intends for all of His people for all time—to live in the Land of His Promises and Provision.  You can count on God because He has a 100% record of faithfulness.  Following God is like buying a lottery ticket when you already know the winning numbers.  No—it is much more than that!

The Levitical Cities, or the Cities of Light, teach us that God wants His truth to be evident in and through His people.  The lamp of prayer must always be lit and the torch of truth must be carried into the darkness of our world.  We, believers in Jesus Christ, are God’s “Cities of Light.”  The Light of Christ reflecting off of our devotion points others to saving faith in Jesus Christ. 

We must not put this light under the “bushel of religion” hidden away in musty sanctuaries.  The Light of our lives must be scattered throughout our communities as we go about our daily tasks.  We cannot afford to allow our cities to go dark because we practice our faith only one day a week in only one place.  The Levites were scattered among the people as living parables of what God wants us to be and do.

Go . . . be the Light of the World and God will meet your every need.