RPG Adults
THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (V)
THURSDAY, MARCH 2
Judges 19:1-9
Leviticus 21:6-15
“They shall be holy
unto their God…”
THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (V)
The second of the two appendices presents to us the failure of the national systems (Judg 19-21). It was a failure that almost wiped out one tribe from among the tribes of Israel. Just like in the first appendix, the account begins in a domestic setting, but unlike the first appendix, the setting here is in the domestic life of a Levite; a Levite who lived with a woman as if she was his wife but without the same status of a wife. Polygamy, divorce and concubinage are not part of the original plan for marriage. Thus, this second appendix begins by introducing us to a “hard-hearted” servant of God.
“And his concubine played the whore against him…” (Judg 19:2). The concubine did not have the official family status and tie as a wife and, as such, was not bound to be devoted or faithful to her man. The fact that she was a concubine also presumed that the Levite was a married man. Yet, this man still went after his concubine and sought to persuade her to come back to him. He wanted to continue their sinful lifestyle, even after she had compounded that by playing the harlot. The Bible does present concubinage as a common and prevalent practice, but nowhere does the Bible approve or recommend it. God in His sovereignty and grace made provisions in which women (and children) in this kind of relationship are not victims of vile, violent or unjust treatment by men, but that does not mean that such relationships are recommended or approved of.
“…he rose up to depart” (Judg 19:5, 7, 9). The trip to bring his concubine home took the Levite to the home of his concubine’s father where he spent five days. The Levite could not resist his concubine and went after her, even to her father’s home. While there, he was repeatedly detained and his stay extended to five days. His “father-in-law” detained him with “Comfort thine heart” (Judg 19:5, 8) and “let thine heart be merry” (Judg 19:6) for the five days. The man who served God was detained by food and drink when in pursuit of his concubine. What a sad testimony indeed.
THOUGHT: The corrupting influence of sin leads to a downward spiral.
PRAYER: (Consider Ezekiel 18:26-27 and seek God’s face in prayer.)