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THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (VII)
SATURDAY, MARCH 4
Judges 19:22-30

Genesis 19:1-13

 

“…I pray you, brethren,

do not so wickedly.

 

THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (VII)
 
The Levite secured a welcome in the house of the old man, but not safety. The joy of finding shelter and hospitality was soon interrupted by a visit from sons of Belial. He had been noticed, but not welcomed, and when night fell, those who noticed him came knocking in what seems to be a re-enactment of Sodom and Gomorrah.
 
“…the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning…” (Judg 19:25). Just as Lot had tried to intervene on behalf of his guests, this old man tried to intervene for this “man of God” that had visited and lodged with him. He probably thought it a lesser sin to give his daughter and the concubine to be defiled by the men of the city than to give the Levite to be sodomised. When the men of the city would not hearken to him, the Levite, hearing the conversation and the attempts of his host to secure his dignity, took matters into his own hands and handed over his concubine to the men.
 
“And her lord rose up in the morning… And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going…” (Judg 19:27-28). The morning saw the Levite prepared to depart and he uncaringly spoke to her words that did not seem to take into account the events of the night before. How could he sleep through the night? How could he rise up, prepare to leave and speak to her in such a curt and emotionless manner when he saw her body lying on the pavement? Without any response from her, how could he pick her up and continue on his journey? What had the Levitical office degenerated to as presented by the character of this man?
 
“…he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her…” (Judg 19:29). His plea for justice on behalf of his concubine was equally shocking. Saul would later use a similar method to rally the people to his side, but he used oxen (1 Sam 11:1-8). If this was the only recourse for him to get help, how hardened were the hearts of the Israelites?
 
THOUGHT: Constant sin dulls the conscience, and the dread of evil is lost.

PRAYER: “I am counting all but dross; I shall full salvation find.”

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