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Judges 19:1-21:25<\/strong><\/span> Today\u2019s readings in Judges 19 about the Levite\u2019s concubine being raped and killed really made me tear up today. What a sad story! The evil of the act led to tens of thousands of men dying in battle in chapter 20. Notice the similarities between Judges chapter 19 and Genesis chapter 19?\u00a0 In <\/span>Genesis chapter 19<\/span> two angels arrived in Sodom in the evening and they planned to spend the night in the town square.\u00a0 But Lot insisted they go with him and spend the night at his house.\u00a0 Then, in the middle of the night the men of Sodom came to Lot\u2019s house to have sex with the two angels.\u00a0 Lot offered his two virgin daughters instead\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0see the unfortunate similarities?\u00a0 Social protocol of the time \u2013 protecting a house guest at any cost \u2013 unfortunately carried more authority in Judges chapter 19 than God\u2019s law and moral convictions.\u00a0 Obviously this is an extreme case in Judges chapter 19\u2026. yet, is it possible that in today\u2019s world social protocol of our time can sometimes carry more authority than moral convictions?\u00a0 Will we stand tall today and protect someone when this is the case?\u00a0 We will stand up for moral convictions over social protocol today?\u00a0 An image is below for Judges chapter 19 verses 16 & 17 \u2013 \u201cThat evening an old man came home from his work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he was living in Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. When he saw the travelers sitting in the town square, he asked them where they were from and where they were going.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n And another image is below for Judges chapter 20 verses 4 through 7 \u2013 \u201cThe Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, said, \u201cMy concubine and I came to Gibeah, a town in the land of Benjamin, to spend the night. That night some of the leaders of Gibeah surrounded the house, planning to kill me, and they raped my concubine until she was dead. So I cut her body into twelve pieces and sent the pieces throughout the land of Israel, for these men have committed this terrible and shameful crime. Now then, the entire community of Israel must decide what should be done about this!\u201d\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Today we finish the book of Judges!\u00a0 What a powerful and telling verse the book closes with in chapter 21 verse 25: \u201cIn those days Israel had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Unfortunately, so true then.\u00a0 And perhaps so true for us today if we don\u2019t have a king.\u00a0 Fortunately, we do have the opportunity to have a king \u2013 through faith in Jesus.\u00a0 Otherwise, without Jesus as our king, we will surely do whatever seems right in our own eyes.\u00a0 I know I did for many years\u2026\u00a0 sad years they were.\u00a0 Is Jesus your King?<\/span><\/p>\n An image is below for verse 23 \u2013 \u201cSo the men of Benjamin did as they were told. They kidnapped the women who took part in the celebration and carried them off to the land of their own inheritance. Then they rebuilt their towns and lived in them.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Judges reminded me of the song \u201cSavior Please\u201d by Josh Wilson:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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