Sermon Notes - Joshua 21 - Littleby Baptist Church - November 16, 2025

1.        By setting up the cities of refuge, God provided a path for people to seek mercy.

a.        To have hope.

b.       They were able to run to those cities of refuge when they accidently killed someone.

c.        They would be protected until they could face a trial.

d.       And if they are innocent, they would be safe for the rest of their days.

2.        Today, we don’t have to run to a city.

a.        We don’t need to hide out.

b.       Instead, the Father has given us His Son.

c.        Even though we are guilty, through the sacrifice of Jesus we can be redeemed.

d.       Jesus is our refuge.

e.        He knows we are sinners.

f.          He knows we are lost without Him.

g.        But he is offering Hope.

h.        Hope that is found through repenting of our sins and choosing to follow Him.

3.        We all need that Hope.

4.        As Israel was forming, those who needed it found hope in these cities.

a.        Which is part of the inheritance to the Levites.

b.       They did not get land like the others.

c.        Their primary inheritance was God.

d.       Instead of receiving a large area.

e.        They received cities spread out through different tribes.

5.        The command is seen in Numbers.

6.        Numbers 35:1-8

a.        What we see in Joshua 21 is the fulfillment of what God commanded in Numbers.

7.        Joshua 21:1-3

a.        After the other tribes received their inheritance.

b.       God’s command to provide for the Levites is carried out.

8.        Joshua 21:4-8

a.        As we read in Proverbs a couple of weeks back.

b.       The lot was cast to know God’s will.

c.        By lot God handed each city to a portion of the Levites tribe.

d.       This section of Scripture is proof that God is directing the lots.

e.        Reread verse 4.

f.          The descendants of Aaron received cities that would be close to Jerusalem.

g.        Down the road a bit they are going to serve the temple in Jerusalem.

h.        God knew what was going to happen many years in the future.

i.          He gave these specific cities to Aaron’s descendants so that they could be close to where they would serve.

j.          This was all part of God’s plan.

k.        He is in control.

9.        Joshua 21:9-19

a.        Read verses 9-13; 19.

b.       A couple of things we notice in the distribution of cities to Aaron’s descendants.

c.        Caleb is close enough and has some overlap, so in this case that land is Caleb’s.

d.       We also see that the Levites received Hebron, a city of refuge.

e.        All the cities of refuge will be home for the Levites.

10.   Joshua 21:20-26

a.        Read verses 20-21; 26.

b.       This is for those of the Kohathites who are not in the priestly line.

c.        Ten more cities, with one of them being a city of refuge.

11.   Joshua 21:27-33

a.        Read verses 27; 32-33

b.       2 more of the cities of refuge out of the 13 provided.

12.   Joshua 21:34-40

a.        Read verses 34 & 40.

b.       Another city of refuge.

c.        Given to the remaining Levites also called the Merarites.

13.   Joshua 21:41-42

a.        The other tribes of Israel provided the Levites their 48 cities as God commanded.

b.       Which is what we read in Numbers 35:6.

c.        While the Levites received cities.

d.       They did not receive an inheritance like the other tribes did.

e.        Instead, the Lord was their inheritance.

f.          The cities are where they dwelled.

g.        Where they lived and cared for their families.

14.   Deuteronomy 18:1-5

a.        Their inheritance was God.

b.       They received food through the offerings made to God.

c.        Their service to God was their inheritance.

d.       They were set apart.

e.        They took care of the tabernacle.

f.          They handled the sacrifices.

g.        Their role was to oversee the worship of the entire nation of Israel.

h.        To teach them the Law.

i.          To help the people remember what God has done and to follow God’s Word.

15.   As we skimmed the locations of these cities, you may have noticed that they were not all clumped together.

a.        They were spread out amongst all of Israel.

b.       If one of their jobs was to help the people remember God.

c.        To remember what He had done for them.

d.       They needed to be dispersed among the people.

e.        Being clumped together would do no good.

f.          One commentary I read stated that it was estimated that no one in Israel lived more than 10 miles from a Levite town.

g.        The Levites were spread out so that they could support all of the nation.

16.   Matthew 5, Jesus tells us we are to be salt and light.

a.        When you bake bread you don’t want all the salt clumped together in one spot.

b.       You want it mixed throughout the dough.

c.        If we were trying to light this room with candles.

d.       We would want to spread them out to light the whole room, not just one spot.

17.   It is great that we gather.

a.        It is needed.

b.       It is how we grow.

c.        By doing so we are following what the Word of God teaches us.

d.       But we do need to be out in the world.

e.        Not of the world, but in it.

f.          Loving others.

g.        And being witnesses.

18.   The Levites were spread out to do what they were commanded to do.

a.        We are to go forth from our gathering each week to share Jesus, as we were commanded to do.

19.   Joshua 21:43

a.        Genesis 12:5-7

b.       God promised to give Abrham’s descendants all this land.

c.        Verse 43 tells us that they had received all of their inheritance.

d.       In the last couple of weeks we have seen that there are areas that still need to be tamed.

e.        In chapter 23:4-5, we see there are still lands that God will deliver to the people.

f.          There seems to be some disparity here.

g.        But not really.

20.   God did deliver the land as promised.

a.        He fulfilled His promise.

b.       But there is still more to be done.

c.        The author of Joshua, inspired by God, makes both points.

d.       He emphasizes that God was faithful and fulfilled His promise.

e.        But let it be known that some additional land is still to be claimed.

f.          Which was exactly what God said would be done.

g.        Deuteronomy 7:21-24

h.        As we have gone through Joshua, we God doing what is listed here.

i.          God is with the people.

j.          He drove out the nations.

k.        He gave them over to Isreal.

l.          He caused confusion.

m.     He handed over their kings.

n.        He made it so no one could stand against Isreal.

o.        So, when we read in verse 22, that He will drive them out little by little.

p.       The disparity we may think is in Joshua makes perfect sense.

q.       As they follow God, He will clear out the land, little by little.

21.   Joshua 21:44

a.        Israel’s enemies were defeated.

b.       As God promised their forefathers.

c.        Exodus 23:22-23

d.       When the people follow God.

e.        He fights for them.

f.          We see this in Israel’s future.

g.        When they drifted away from God, they would be suppressed by other people.

h.        When they turned back to God and honored Him.

i.          God would deliver His people from those who were suppressing them.

j.          We see it over and over again.

22.   Joshua 21:45

a.        Thank You God!

b.       God is faithful.

c.        He delivered His people.

d.       He provided them with rest.

e.        He took care of their needs.

23.   Time and time again we are seeing that God is faithful.

24.   When we wonder what God is doing, we should trust that He is a faithful God.

a.        His Word continues to give us example after example.

b.       When we read that God will give us rest when we are weary… He is faithful to do it.

c.        When Scripture states that His grace is sufficient for us… we know that it is.

d.       When we read that His power is made perfect in our weakness… we can trust that He will carry us through our troubles.

e.        That His righteous right hand will hold us steady.

f.          When we are told that God will renew our strength… we know that He is faithful to do just that.

g.        That God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds… we can trust Him.

25.   1 Peter 2:24-25

a.        We can trust that Jesus bore our sins.

b.       Dying for us so that we can be made righteous.

c.        By His wounds we have been healed.

d.       We have been forgiven.

26.   The Father has been faithful to provide a way to be with Him.

a.        Giving His only son, Jesus to die for us.

b.       He paid our debt.

c.        Giving us new life, healing us from our sinful ways.

d.       So that we could be forgiven.

e.        Redeemed.

f.          Made Holy.

27.   It is only through Jesus that we can see God’s ultimate faithfulness.

a.        It is through Jesus He provided a way for us to spend forever with God.

b.       Instead of an eternity without God.

c.        Jesus died for you.

d.       If you would like to know more about our Jesus.

e.        I would love to talk with you.

28.   For those of us who are Christ followers.

a.        Go forth and be the salt and light.

b.       Love others.

c.        Be a witness.