69. The Cult - "She Sells Sanctuary"


"Sanctuary" was released in May 1985 from The Cult's album "Love" and made it to Number 15 in the UK charts.  The band has released various versions of the song. Aside from the original 7" single, three other versions had been released around the same time on 12" formats: "The Long Version", "The Howling Mix" and "Assault on Sanctuary". There are many interpretations of the song "She Sells Sanctuary" which conflict each other. From the lyrics the song is about finding sanctuary in another person, it's about a perfect relationship "the fire in your eyes, keeps me alive" It's a song that portrays the mundaneness of the ordinary life with one exception - the person who provides sanctuary.

Oh, the heads that turn
Make my back burn
And that heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn

The sparkle in your eyes
Keeps me alive
And the sparkle in your eyes
Keeps me alive, keeps me alive

The world
And the world turns around
The world and the world yeah
The world drags me down

Oh, the heads that turn
Make my back burn
And thats heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn, yeah
Hey yeah hey, yeah hey

The fire in your eyes keeps me alive
And the fire in your eyes keeps me alive
I'm sure in her you'll find the sanctuary
I'm sure in her you'll find the sanctuary

And the world the world turns around
And the world and the world the world drags me down
And the world and the world the world turns around
And the world and the world and the world and the world
And the world drags me down

Ah, hey yeah, hey yeah
And the world and the world turns around
And the world and the world
Yeah, the world drags me down
And the world
Yeah, the world turns around
And the world and the world the world drags me down

Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Sanctuary


In the Old Testament there was a provision of God in the mosaic law of Cities of Rescue or Cities of Sanctuary.The cities are called Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Romath, and Golan. The idea being that anyone who committed a murder was to be put to death (Exodus 21:14). But for unintentional deaths, God set aside these cities to which the murderer could flee for refuge (Exodus 21:13). He would be safe from the avenger—the family member charged with avenging the victim’s death (Numbers 35:19)—until the case could go to trial. 
Numbers 35:6 - 15 6 “Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. 7 In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. 8 The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.” 9 Then the Lord said to Moses: 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 11 select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. 12 They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.13 These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge. 14 Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. 15 These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.
The congregation would judge to find if the attacker acted unintentionally. If he did, he would return to the city of refuge and live there safely until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the trial, at which point he could return to his property. If the attacker left the city of refuge before the death of the high priest, however, the avenger would have the right to kill him (Numbers 35:24-28).

The cities of refuge are types and illustrations of Jesus, in Him we find a refuge and a sanctuary from the destroyer of our souls. Just as the guilty person sought refuge in the cities set up for that purpose, in the same way we flee to Jesus for refuge and a sanctuary. We run to Jesus to escape the present danger we are in from the curse and condemnation of the law.  Only Jesus provides refuge and sanctuary from these things, and it is to Him alone that we must run. Just as the cities were open to all who fled to them for safety, it is Christ who provides sanctuary to all who come to Him for refuge. Jesus provides the ultimate sanctuary.

Matthew 11:28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.


No comments:

Post a Comment