What does the term 'avenger' mean in the context of the Bible?
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'Avenger' refers to the one who enacts punishment for wrongdoing, as seen in the laws governing the cities of refuge, but also illustrates Christ's role in fulfilling justice on behalf of sinners.
In the context of Numbers 35, the 'avenger' is a relative who has the right to pursue justice against someone who has killed their family member, symbolizing God's righteous requirement of justice. The preacher connects this term to the concept of the kinsman-redeemer, indicating that while the law demands execution of justice, Christ, our true kinsman, intervenes on our behalf. He does not negate the law's demands but satisfies them through His death, thus allowing His elect to find refuge in Him and escape the avenger's claim against their souls. This duality of justice and mercy is essential to understanding Christ's redemptive work.
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