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Judges 19-21

Good evening, church.

Tonight we are going to finish the book of Judges, we

will be in Chapters 19-21.

Let us pray before we move on…

As we mentioned last time, chapters 17-21 are an

appendix to the Book of Judges.

Last time we saw the downfall of Israel began with

religious apostasy as we saw Micah’s idols and his

priest blended Canaanitish religion with Hebrew

Religion.

The Covenant People of God were on a downward

spiral, and the syncretistic religion of the day, that

made all belief’s equal beliefs was destroying the

foundations of True Worship.

We saw Israel’s failure began in the home, and as the

home goes, so does the country.

Now, from Israel’s religious apostasy we will move on

into the second phase, moral misery.

You see once Truth crumbles in the home, society then

crumbles under gross immorality.

And tonight, we will see the horribleness of a self-

centered society over a God-centered society.

The parallels to our current time and culture are

frightening.

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Understand these last three chapters of Judges are

stomach turning and horrible, but they could easily be

today’s headlines in the United States.

The breakdown of family and Christian values in our

country have brought us into a dark and dreadful part

of history.

So, we will see here in Judges 19-21 another Levite

from the mountains of Ephraim, who will be as corrupt

as the last Levite in our former account.

The writer once again will point out that there was no

king in Israel.

Remember God was supposed to be their King.

They were a nation unlike any other nation, in that,

God dealt with them directly and He was to be the

center of their government.

However, in their covenant with Him, there were dire

consequences if they did not keep their end of the

covenant.

Their privileges came with great responsibility.

And here they have rejected their King and His Law,

and there was no central government to enforce the

laws of God.

The tribes at this point were living independently, and

were only concerned with anything that affected them

directly.

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They had lost the heart and conquering spirit of the

unified people of God.

And the account before us is possibly the most

disgusting and degrading in all of the Bible.

So let us read now Chapter 19 verses 1-9…

The Levite's Concubine

19:1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was

no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying

in the remote mountains of Ephraim. He took for

himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2 But

his concubine played the harlot against him, and went

away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in

Judah, and was there four whole months. 3 Then her

husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to

her and bring her back, having his servant and a couple

of donkeys with him. So she brought him into her

father's house; and when the father of the young

woman saw him, he was glad to meet him. 4 Now his

father-in-law, the young woman's father, detained

him; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate

and drank and lodged there.

5 Then it came to pass on the fourth day that they

arose early in the morning, and he stood to depart; but

the young woman's father said to his son-in-law,

"Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and

afterward go your way."

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6 So they sat down, and the two of them ate and drank

together. Then the young woman's father said to the

man, "Please be content to stay all night, and let your

heart be merry." 7 And when the man stood to depart,

his father-in-law urged him; so he lodged there again.

8 Then he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to

depart, but the young woman's father said, "Please

refresh your heart." So they delayed until afternoon;

and both of them ate.

9 And when the man stood to depart — he and his

concubine and his servant — his father-in-law, the

young woman's father, said to him, "Look, the day is

now drawing toward evening; please spend the night.

See, the day is coming to an end; lodge here, that your

heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early, so

that you may get home."

Our story begins with an unnamed Levite living with a

concubine in the mountains of Ephraim.

A concubine was a second-class wife, who might be a

slave, or a woman with no dowry.

Now, we see this woman was unfaithful, she played

the harlot.

Now, nothing in our text reads that she was sexually

unfaithful, in fact other translations put it as she was

angry with the Levite.

She is the one who leaves, rather than being sent

away.

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It may even be that her unfaithfulness was simply in

the fact that she left the relationship and went back to

her father’s house.

And after 4 months, the Levite realizes his concubine is

not coming back.

So he set out with a servant to prove he was a caring

man, and wanted her back.

His kind words were effective, and she takes him to

meet her father.

Now the concubine’s father was delighted to meet her

man.

They hit it off wonderfully, and had a great feast

together.

They spent 5 days eating, drinking and being merry.

But little did this Levite know, that just around the

corner, horrible days lay ahead.

He is careless and enjoying life.

Much like much many do today.

They focus on enjoying life, and seeking pleasures, and

they think nothing of the accounting God will have in

the near future.

This Levite was a sad picture of the state of Israel,

instead of serving the Lord before the tabernacle, he is

making merry.

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Today the church is called out of this world, and we are

to be God’s representations in this life.

1 Peter 2:9-10 …you are a chosen generation, a royal

priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that

you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you

out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once

were not a people but are now the people of God, who

had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

In 1 Thess. 5:5-6 we are called

…. sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the

night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as

others do, but let us watch and be sober.

We are to live our lives awake, and not caught up in

the amusement of the nightlife.

If this Levite was awake to his calling, surely he would

have avoided what would take place next…

So after the father-in-law attempts to keep the party

going, the man had to get going, but he will get a late

start now…

10 However, the man was not willing to spend that

night; so he rose and departed, and came opposite

Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). With him were the two

saddled donkeys; his concubine was also with him. 11

They were near Jebus, and the day was far spent; and

the servant said to his master, "Come, please, and let

us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and lodge in

it."

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12 But his master said to him, "We will not turn aside

here into a city of foreigners, who are not of the

children of Israel; we will go on to Gibeah." 13 So he

said to his servant, "Come, let us draw near to one of

these places, and spend the night in Gibeah or in

Ramah." 14 And they passed by and went their way;

and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which

belongs to Benjamin. 15 They turned aside there to go

in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in, he sat

down in the open square of the city, for no one would

take them into his house to spend the night.

16 Just then an old man came in from his work in the

field at evening, who also was from the mountains of

Ephraim; he was staying in Gibeah, whereas the men

of the place were Benjamites. 17 And when he raised

his eyes, he saw the traveler in the open square of the

city; and the old man said, "Where are you going, and

where do you come from?"

18 So he said to him, "We are passing from Bethlehem

in Judah toward the remote mountains of Ephraim; I

am from there. I went to Bethlehem in Judah; now I

am going to the house of the Lord. But there is no one

who will take me into his house, 19 although we have

both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and

wine for myself, for your female servant, and for the

young man who is with your servant; there is no lack of

anything."

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20 And the old man said, "Peace be with you!

However, let all your needs be my responsibility; only

do not spend the night in the open square." 21 So he

brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the

donkeys. And they washed their feet, and ate and

drank.

The Levite, his servant, and his concubine set out, and

because they got a late start, they had to take refuge in

a city.

The city of Jebus or later Jerusalem was near, but the

heathen Jebusites had not been cast out yet.

The servant asks if they could stay there, but the Levite

is untrusting of those heathens, and wants to press on

a few more miles to Gibeah, where at least they were

Israelites of the Tribe of Benjamin.

Little did he know, that the people of Gibeah had

became even more debased than the heathens around

them, and have fallen to a place equal to that of

Sodom and Gomorrah.

And as the custom of the day was, the travelers would

make their way to the central market places to show

they needed a place to stay.

Even backpackers and travelers today do this in other

countries looking for those who might offer a bed for

the night.

But immediately we see the hospitality of the people

of Gibeah is none existent.

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This is really unthinkable in this culture, that nobody

would welcome a visitor in their home.

But we see an outsider saw the travelers, he is another

man from Ephraim as he is coming in from his fields

offers them a place.

This man, according to the custom of the day would be

responsible for provisions for the travelers, and even

protection for them.

And we see this Levite is seemingly easy to get along

with, because this Ephraimite eats and drinks, and we

read now in verse 22…

Gibeah's Crime

22 As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain

men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house

and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the

house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who

came to your house, that we may know him carnally!"

23 But the man, the master of the house, went out to

them and said to them, "No, my brethren! I beg you,

do not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into

my house, do not commit this outrage. 24 Look, here is

my virgin daughter and the man's concubine; let me

bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them

as you please; but to this man do not do such a vile

thing!" 25 But the men would not heed him. So the

man took his concubine and brought her out to them.

And they knew her and abused her all night until

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morning; and when the day began to break, they let

her go.

26 Then the woman came as the day was dawning, and

fell down at the door of the man's house where her

master was, till it was light.

27 When her master arose in the morning, and opened

the doors of the house and went out to go his way,

there was his concubine, fallen at the door of the

house with her hands on the threshold. 28 And he said

to her, "Get up and let us be going." But there was no

answer. So the man lifted her onto the donkey; and

the man got up and went to his place.

We see a scene here very similar to that of Genesis 19,

and the reception of the angels who visited Sodom.

Remember the condition of Israel was that every

person did what was right in their own eyes.

This kind of relativism breeds this kind of sick activity.

The men of the town want to know the Levite sexually,

they desired to commit homosexual acts upon him.

God’s law clearly defined this act as an abomination.

These are children of the covenant and they show no

more self-control than the neighborhood dog.

They are animals, completely removed from reality and

unconcerned about their God.

We see in this fallen society the low view of woman, as

the host offers his daughter, and eventually the Levite

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tosses his poor trusting concubine out to the beasts of

Gibeah.

Led by their insatiable lusts they ravish her all night as

they gang rape her.

I find it interesting that many churchgoing parents are

appalled at this scene, and they judge the father who

wanted to throw his daughter to these people.

Yet some of these same parents will allow their little

children to watch movies and play video games with

the same kind of filth.

They demand Chastity from their children physically

and allow their minds to be ravished with sex and

violence without a second thought.

They justify it, because it keeps them out of their hair,

and keep the little ones busy.

Chastity of mind and heart are essential for chastity of

the body. Wiersbe

It is any wonder our colleges are filled with debauchery

and sex, and our news is constantly telling us of the

gang rape happening in the younger generation’s

parties.

Don’t you find it interesting that the same Hollywood

demanding equality between men and women in our

society keep producing movies and shows that use

woman as a marketing tool, as they sexually exploit

their bodies?

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Sometimes it is the same women espousing equality

who are putting themselves out as sexual icons.

Or our pop stars, the musicians and artists of our time

are putting forth the same filth, and we let our kids

listen and enjoy the fallen ideas of those singers.

I saw a couple weeks on Spotify a playlists that said

most popular music in the United States, and out of 50

hits today, only 11 were did not have an explicit

warning.

I started at the top, and I could not get 10 seconds into

any of them.

But we let our sons and daughters listen, we hand

them over to the animals of our society, and say “Here

take them.”

We don’t want to invade on their privacy, we want to

give them their space, and their minds are being

ravished.

As the family goes so does the society.

It is time we regained our homes, Revival will start in

our homes.

If we are honest with our society, we are not much

different from this scene.

So the Levite, wakes in the morning,

He only cared for his own well-being and notice in

verse 27, the man arose and sees his poor wife dying

or dead from the horrible night.

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Now, was his merriment and entertainment so joyful

that he did not hear the screams of terror from this

poor woman outside the door.

That means he was able to lie down and sleep while

this woman was abused in the street.

This is appalling, and horrible.

Yet again we see many drunkard fathers, and drug

using mothers who care only for their own comfort

and well-being, they leave their children to the world

to raise them.

How many fathers and mothers sit in prison while their

children fend for themselves in the streets?

And the world steals their souls and minds, and when

the parent eventually awakens, it is all too late, the

child is gone and lost.

I want you all to understand, something right here,

that is very serious.

Our ministry in this neighborhood, is taking on the

mission of meeting the lost kids in our society with

Jesus, so they can have hope.

We are trying with all earnest to sweep these street

kids into a refuge here at the church week after week.

More and more, we are seeing this as mission number

one in our ministry.

And I will plead with you, who are sitting on the fence

with serving the Lord here, now is the time.

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Our society is eating up the younger generation’s

souls, and we need to counter it.

Every week it seems we are getting more and more

new children from the neighborhood, they are

interested in the Jesus we preach.

We cannot close our eyes to this need, we cannot live

as the rest of society does, selfishly, or we are not

much different from the Levite who heartlessly finds

his dead wife on the doorstep.

He sees her and we see his coldness, as he put her on

his donkey and heads home.

Now, let us finish this horrible story, and if you are

sickened right now by our story, you are reading and

understanding it correctly.

The writer is showing the deplorable place a people

without God can go…

It gets worse, look at verse 29…

29 When he entered his house he took a knife, laid

hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve

pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the

territory of Israel. 30 And so it was that all who saw it

said, "No such deed has been done or seen from the

day that the children of Israel came up from the land of

Egypt until this day. Consider it, confer, and speak up!"

The Levite wants retribution for the loss of his

property.

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His poor devalued wife is used to now provoke a huge

response in Israel.

He cuts up is wife into 12 pieces and sends them to

most likely the 12 tribes of Israel with a message and

appeal to make this wrong right.

This man is a hypocrite, however, we don’t know how

he spun the story, but it is obvious that he presents his

case as a victim.

He must have hid the fact that he was a coward, and

did nothing to protect his wife.

It is a sad thing when people make their own truths up,

to provoke a response from the nation.

Who would do such a thing? Well, you might want to

look at our headlines today, Maybe Google Jussie

Smollet.

Still today, people create their own truths to provoke a

response.

So this Levite’s call to arms was dramatic and

successful, as we see next in chapter 20…

Israel's War with the Benjamites

20:1 So all the children of Israel came out, from Dan to

Beersheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the

congregation gathered together as one man before the

Lord at Mizpah. 2 And the leaders of all the people, all

the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the

assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand

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foot soldiers who drew the sword. 3 (Now the children

of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone

up to Mizpah.)

Then the children of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this

wicked deed happen?"

4 So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was

murdered, answered and said, "My concubine and I

went into Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, to spend

the night. 5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me,

and surrounded the house at night because of me.

They intended to kill me, but instead they ravished my

concubine so that she died. 6 So I took hold of my

concubine, cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout

all the territory of the inheritance of Israel, because

they committed lewdness and outrage in Israel. 7

Look! All of you are children of Israel; give your advice

and counsel here and now!"

8 So all the people arose as one man, saying, "None of

us will go to his tent, nor will any turn back to his

house; 9 but now this is the thing which we will do to

Gibeah: We will go up against it by lot. 10 We will take

ten men out of every hundred throughout all the tribes

of Israel, a hundred out of every thousand, and a

thousand out of every ten thousand, to make

provisions for the people, that when they come to

Gibeah in Benjamin, they may repay all the vileness

that they have done in Israel." 11 So all the men of

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Israel were gathered against the city, united together

as one man.

The gruesome message resulted in gathering leaders

and soldiers form the entire nation here, except

Benjamin.

They gathered together to hold a court session to

figure out what they are to do.

After hearing the Levites half-truths they decide

Gibeah is guilty and they needed to be judged.

They agree to confront the people of Gibeah.

Now, please note verse 11, Israel for the first time in

Judges is unified and standing together.

But they are no longer unified against an enemy, they

have come together against their own with a greater

intensity than they did to the people they were

supposed to dispose of out of the land.

I don’t know if you have ever been a part of a church

split, but I have seen one or two.

And I marvel at the intensity the people of God can

come against each other with.

Christians can turn on each other with great vileness

and energy, and I am always left wondering why they

could not use that energy toward the great

commission.

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As Israel had a job to do, in removing the heathen

nations, so the church has a mission in reaching the

unbeliever for Christ.

That mission is what we should gather around, not

factions full of dissatisfied grumblers.

Israel here gathers nobly against itself, and I am sure

their enemies are amused by this.

And the enemy loves it when the church becomes

tribal as well, and we turn we against each other.

Let’s look at these kingless people trying to govern

now in confusion. They will make one foolish mistake

after another.

12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through all the

tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What is this wickedness

that has occurred among you? 13 Now therefore,

deliver up the men, the perverted men who are in

Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove

the evil from Israel!" But the children of Benjamin

would not listen to the voice of their brethren, the

children of Israel. 14 Instead, the children of Benjamin

gathered together from their cities to Gibeah, to go to

battle against the children of Israel. 15 And from their

cities at that time the children of Benjamin numbered

twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides

the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven

hundred select men. 16 Among all this people were

seven hundred select men who were left-handed;

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every one could sling a stone at a hair's breadth and

not miss. 17 Now besides Benjamin, the men of Israel

numbered four hundred thousand men who drew the

sword; all of these were men of war.

Now, we see here when a nation has fallen, it starts

worrying about its own tribe instead of what is right

and best for the whole nation.

Benjamin is not concerned with the sin in its midst,

instead of standing on the side of right, it determines

its tribal allegiance is more important, and they send

an army to stand with the animals of Gibeah.

The writer lets us know that within their ranks were

700 assassins who could sling a stone at a hair’s

breadth and not miss.

And the outnumbered Benjamites send their best, not

to fight against the heathen, but their own nation.

I wonder if we were to honestly assess our own

society.

I wonder if we would see a tribal society or a people

that is looking out for the nation on a whole.

It seems more and more, that we are divided into

groups and segments into our culture.

And people will stand with people of their tribe, and

only want to better their little segment of society.

No longer are we a nation united together under one

God with a common bond.

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No, we are now divided by our skin color, by our sex,

by our sexual identity, whether we are rich or poor.

And each little tribe, stands with their own, even when

foolishness is exposed within their tribe.

When selfishness motivates a nation, the nation has

fallen.

Don’t believe the lie, in Christ, we do not see others by

their skin color, male is not greater than female,

female is not superior to man, either are we not

separated by economic status, immigrant or

nonimmigrant.

In Christ, we are equal, and family.

Resist this pull to join these little tribes within our

society.

We are strongest when we stand together, when all

tribes get together under one God.

It really seems obvious, that our great country has

been weakened by these tribal factions being created.

Our enemy knows when we are divided we are weak.

See through the delusion to divide, may the church be

an example to what unity can look like, as we stand

together under Christ.

Now, next we will see the nation will inquire of God,

again not to take the land promised to them, but to

see about attacking their own.

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18 Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the

house of God to inquire of God. They said, "Which of

us shall go up first to battle against the children of

Benjamin?"

The Lord said, "Judah first!"

19 So the children of Israel rose in the morning and

encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel

went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of

Israel put themselves in battle array to fight against

them at Gibeah. 21 Then the children of Benjamin

came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the

ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites. 22

And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encouraged

themselves and again formed the battle line at the

place where they had put themselves in array on the

first day. 23 Then the children of Israel went up and

wept before the Lord until evening, and asked counsel

of the Lord, saying, "Shall I again draw near for battle

against the children of my brother Benjamin?"

And the Lord said, "Go up against him."

24 So the children of Israel approached the children of

Benjamin on the second day. 25 And Benjamin went

out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and

cut down to the ground eighteen thousand more of

the children of Israel; all these drew the sword.

26 Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people,

went up and came to the house of God and wept. They

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sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until

evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace

offerings before the Lord. 27 So the children of Israel

inquired of the Lord (the ark of the covenant of God

was there in those days, 28 and Phinehas the son of

Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those

days), saying, "Shall I yet again go out to battle against

the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?"

And the Lord said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver

them into your hand."

Twice Israel was defeated by the outnumbered

Benjamites.

Tens of thousands were killed, and the situation was

very grim.

Understand both sides are being judged here.

And with each loss the children of Israel show more

humility in their approach to God.

Understand our defeats in this life are often times that

get us to a place of humility, a place where we are

totally seeking God’s Will.

God allows storms to break us.

The 11 tribes ultimately fast and along with tears they

pray to God, and the third time they are now given

exact instructions on how to gain the victory.

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Do not let defeat keep you from pressing deeper into

God, it might be the very thing He is wanting, so you

can receive clearly from Him.

Too many run and give up in the season of defeat, we

see here, even defeat is within the will of God.

Next, we read…

29 Then Israel set men in ambush all around Gibeah.

30 And the children of Israel went up against the

children of Benjamin on the third day, and put

themselves in battle array against Gibeah as at the

other times. 31 So the children of Benjamin went out

against the people, and were drawn away from the

city. They began to strike down and kill some of the

people, as at the other times, in the highways (one of

which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah) and

in the field, about thirty men of Israel. 32 And the

children of Benjamin said, "They are defeated before

us, as at first."

But the children of Israel said, "Let us flee and draw

them away from the city to the highways." 33 So all

the men of Israel rose from their place and put

themselves in battle array at Baal Tamar. Then Israel's

men in ambush burst forth from their position in the

plain of Geba. 34 And ten thousand select men from all

Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce.

But the Benjamites did not know that disaster was

upon them. 35 The Lord defeated Benjamin before

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Israel. And the children of Israel destroyed that day

twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites; all

these drew the sword.

36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were

defeated. The men of Israel had given ground to the

Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush

whom they had set against Gibeah. 37 And the men in

ambush quickly rushed upon Gibeah; the men in

ambush spread out and struck the whole city with the

edge of the sword. 38 Now the appointed signal

between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was

that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise up

from the city, 39 whereupon the men of Israel would

turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and

kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they said,

"Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first

battle." 40 But when the cloud began to rise from the

city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked

behind them, and there was the whole city going up in

smoke to heaven. 41 And when the men of Israel

turned back, the men of Benjamin panicked, for they

saw that disaster had come upon them. 42 Therefore

they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the

direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook

them, and whoever came out of the cities they

destroyed in their midst. 43 They surrounded the

Benjamites, chased them, and easily trampled them

down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the east. 44

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And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these

were men of valor. 45 Then they turned and fled

toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and

they cut down five thousand of them on the highways.

Then they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom, and

killed two thousand of them. 46 So all who fell of

Benjamin that day were twenty-five thousand men

who drew the sword; all these were men of valor.

47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the

wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they stayed at

the rock of Rimmon for four months. 48 And the men

of Israel turned back against the children of Benjamin,

and struck them down with the edge of the sword —

from every city, men and beasts, all who were found.

They also set fire to all the cities they came to.

The strategy used here on the third day was very

similar to the strategy given to Joshua in the Battle of

Ai.

The account is repetitive, because we first get the

Benjamite’s viewpoint, then the 11 tribes viewpoint.

But we see overall it was the self-confidence of the

Benjamites, they had the high ground, and two days’

worth of victories…

They were too confident and they were drawn out and

caught in an ambush.

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Over 25,000 Benjamites were killed as they fled, and all

that was left was 600 cowards hiding in the rock

fortress in Rimmon.

This was a huge price the tribe of Benjamin paid here

for not obeying the Law of the Lord.

We see almost a whole tribe is decimated in Israel.

And that becomes a huge problem next…

Let’s look now at the third part of this story…

Wives Provided for the Benjamites

21:1 Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at

Mizpah, saying, "None of us shall give his daughter to

Benjamin as a wife." 2 Then the people came to the

house of God, and remained there before God till

evening. They lifted up their voices and wept bitterly, 3

and said, "O Lord God of Israel, why has this come to

pass in Israel, that today there should be one tribe

missing in Israel?"

4 So it was, on the next morning, that the people rose

early and built an altar there, and offered burnt

offerings and peace offerings. 5 The children of Israel

said, "Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who

did not come up with the assembly to the Lord?" For

they had made a great oath concerning anyone who

had not come up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, "He

shall surely be put to death." 6 And the children of

Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said,

"One tribe is cut off from Israel today. 7 What shall we

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do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have

sworn by the Lord that we will not give them our

daughters as wives?"

We see Israel makes a foolish vow, and we see

similarities here to that of the Vow of Jephthah we

looked at a few weeks ago.

These people speak hastily not thinking of the full

ramifications that lay ahead.

They claim that they will not give one of their

daughters to the tribe of Benjamin.

And after their foolish vow, they go to God and kind of

blame Him.

Of course they cannot simply own up to their foolish

vow, and they cry out to God because now a tribe is

almost lost in Israel.

It is typical for sinful humans to blame God for their

current failures.

When selfish individuals do not get things their own

way, they blame God naturally.

They fail an exam, and they blame God for not

answering their panicked pleas before the test was

handed out.

“Well there must not be a God, because I failed!”

No, you should have studied the night before instead

of playing video games.

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Don’t blame God…

So, Israel made a foolish vow not give their daughters

to the remaining Benjamites, so they must scheme to

save Jacob’s Youngest son’s inheritance among Israel.

Again, the simple way would be to repent, and do what

is right, but sometimes it is easier to push an elephant

over than to get sinful man to admit they are wrong.

So, of course, naturally, it is easier to murder a bunch

more innocent people to cover up their foolish vow.

This is what happens when people get caught up on

little legalities and fail to see the greater good.

They plan now…

8 And they said, "What one is there from the tribes of

Israel who did not come up to Mizpah to the Lord?"

And, in fact, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh

Gilead to the assembly. 9 For when the people were

counted, indeed, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh

Gilead was there. 10 So the congregation sent out

there twelve thousand of their most valiant men, and

commanded them, saying, "Go and strike the

inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the

sword, including the women and children. 11 And this

is the thing that you shall do: You shall utterly destroy

every male, and every woman who has known a man

intimately." 12 So they found among the inhabitants of

Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins who had not

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known a man intimately; and they brought them to the

camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13 Then the whole congregation sent word to the

children of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon,

and announced peace to them. 14 So Benjamin came

back at that time, and they gave them the women

whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh

Gilead; and yet they had not found enough for them.

15 And the people grieved for Benjamin, because the

Lord had made a void in the tribes of Israel.

So they grieve and again blame God for their own in

fighting.

However, their perverted logic here still comes up

short 200 wives, and the murder of innocent lives is

not enough, so now, they will resort to kidnapping.

16 Then the elders of the congregation said, "What

shall we do for wives for those who remain, since the

women of Benjamin have been destroyed?" 17 And

they said, "There must be an inheritance for the

survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe may not be

destroyed from Israel. 18 However, we cannot give

them wives from our daughters, for the children of

Israel have sworn an oath, saying, 'Cursed be the one

who gives a wife to Benjamin.'" 19 Then they said, "In

fact, there is a yearly feast of the Lord in Shiloh, which

is north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that

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goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of

Lebonah."

Understand something here, this was not a

commanded feast to the Lord at Shiloh, this was more

likely a Canaanitish feast once again attributed Israel’s

God.

Syncretism is taking place.

20 Therefore they instructed the children of Benjamin,

saying, "Go, lie in wait in the vineyards, 21 and watch;

and just when the daughters of Shiloh come out to

perform their dances, then come out from the

vineyards, and every man catch a wife for himself from

the daughters of Shiloh; then go to the land of

Benjamin. 22 Then it shall be, when their fathers or

their brothers come to us to complain, that we will say

to them, 'Be kind to them for our sakes, because we

did not take a wife for any of them in the war; for it is

not as though you have given the women to them at

this time, making yourselves guilty of your oath.'"

23 And the children of Benjamin did so; they took

enough wives for their number from those who

danced, whom they caught. Then they went and

returned to their inheritance, and they rebuilt the

cities and dwelt in them. 24 So the children of Israel

departed from there at that time, every man to his

tribe and family; they went out from there, every man

to his inheritance.

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So the kidnapping ensues, and everyone is pleased,

and all go home.

The Benjamites go and rebuild their inheritance and all

is well.

And life goes on, and here we are left with so many

questions, and confusion abounds.

What about these poor women ripped from their

families, how is this justified before a God who calls

these deeds illegal and makes them punishable by

death.

Deut. 24:7 "If a man is found kidnapping any of his

brethren of the children of Israel, and mistreats him or

sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall

put away the evil from among you.

How did they reconcile their conscious before a Holy

God?

None of those things are answered for us.

I think the writer left this as confusing as it really was.

The writer is trying to illustrate the deep sickness of a

society that has abandoned God, and pursued self.

A society where anything goes is a society doomed to

fail.

We see this whole book is summed up by the last

verse…

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25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone

did what was right in his own eyes.

This is what anarchy produces, when man is left to

himself, a society with confusion and atrocities

abound.

But we have to be honest with ourselves tonight,

Gibeah is G rated when held up to our Western World.

We are entertained by immorality and pleasure.

Would you go to your neighbors house and watch

them make love to each other through the window?

“Why, that is perverted and sick.”

Yet, we peep through our TVs to watch people make

love to each other, and somehow that is perfectly

acceptable.

We live in confusing times.

We pay big money to see violence and brutality in

sports and movies, on our video games.

Yet, when a young man acts on the images that he is

bombarded with, and a school shooting takes place,

we are appalled and shocked.

And it is confusing, that one is okay and the other is

not.

The news Media has become similar to a Jerry Springer

show, no longer are they giving useful information.

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They are now bringing us the latest drama story, and

facts are optional.

Truth is whatever you want it to be, if you believe you

are dog, they pat you on the back, and say, “Isn’t it

wonderful it is finding itself and expressing itself

truthfully.”

“Be true to yourself,” is the motto and it is even lived

out to the expense of others.

Can you even believe that we are seeing our

government, with straight faces, and with no sign of

remorse whatsoever saying that it is okay to kill a baby

all the way up to birth, and even after birth?

And those men saying those things are championed

and celebrated as heroes among women.

We are seeing people in one breath demand women

have more equality, and in the next breath demand

that we do away with gender altogether.

It makes absolutely no sense, as everyone is doing

what is right in their own eyes.

Our society is becoming more and more godless

everyday, and with it, it is becoming more and more

confusing, and even hostile.

The Church, the Called out ones, we have entered into

a Lukewarm coma, and the ones who are called to be

salt and light, have been bullied into a corner, with a

cone of shame on their head.

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We have become a joke and comedians go to, to get a

response from the crowd.

The church has lost its backbone, in its quest not to

offend.

And a nation where everyone does what is right in

their own eyes will eventually crumble.

The only hope our society has, is for the church to

awake from its slumber, to walk as children of the day.

To throw off selfishness, and to seek God with a whole

heart.

Revival starts here, in us, 1 Peter 4:17-19

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the

house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be

the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved,

Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will

of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a

faithful Creator.

Revival starts in our homes and in us personally.

We see our world is crumbling, but there is always

hope when our God is on the throne.

Church, we are called to such a time as this, it begins

with us.

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Jessica my wife, told me women’s Bible study was

amazing last night.

Ashley our secretary said it was the best time of

cooperate prayer she has ever been a part of.

And this is where it begins, with prayer, with God’s

people seeking His will and His face again.

Every Revival in church history has begun in a prayer

meeting, and this is where it will begin again.

Church, when was the last time you prayed with your

family?

When was the last time you and your wife got together

and prayed?

Stop worrying about prayer not being in our schools

any longer, that woe is long past, let’s bring prayer

back to our homes, before we lose what ground we

have left.

Maybe turn the TV off earlier, or altogether, put your

phone down.

Jess, like her brain was washed clean.

We like to numb ourselves to reality by these things.

We are in dire time’s church, and we like the Era of

Judges are in a time when everyone does what is right

in their own eyes.

It is time to pray, it’s time to put God’s Word at the

center of our lives again, and as we listen, when He

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speaks, it is vital we obey Him and get busy about His

business.

Amen?

Let us pray…